The United States Coast Guard has publicly identified six passengers and crew members who were aboard an air ambulance that tragically crashed into the waters off the coast of Massachusetts. This incident occurred over the weekend while the aircraft was en route from Bermuda to Boston.
The names of the four Canadians aboard the Gulfstream G100 were revealed late Monday evening: Philip Gregory Childerhose, Thomas Henry Farquhar, Sarah Jane Paton, and Jolene Beth Weir. In addition, Bermuda police confirmed that two Bermudians, Marilyn Lavonne Bean, 66, and Sergio Wayne Lottimore, 41, were also on board when the plane went missing around 1 a.m. on Saturday. Notably, Bermuda lies approximately 750 to 780 miles, or roughly 1,200 to 1,250 kilometers, southeast of Boston.
In the aftermath of the crash, search teams discovered a substantial "debris field" off the coast of Nantucket. Despite an exhaustive search that lasted 66 hours and covered more than 4,400 miles (7,081 kilometers), no signs of the six individuals aboard were found. Consequently, the U.S. Coast Guard made the difficult decision to suspend its rescue operations on Sunday.
Bermuda Premier David Burt expressed sorrow in a statement, reflecting on the tragic loss. “While we held out hope for the best, the worst fears have been realized,” he said, urging the community to open their hearts and extend love and support to the families affected by this disaster.
Sergio Wayne Lottimore, a former student of Warwick Academy in Bermuda, was remembered by the institution as a distinguished school prefect and an “outstanding person.” Hamilton Re, where Lottimore was a senior vice president, mourned the loss of a "respected leader, colleague, and friend." This highlights the profound impact of the tragedy on the local community.
Latitude Air Ambulance, the Ontario-based company that owned the aircraft, also issued a poignant statement acknowledging the heartbreaking reality that all individuals on board are presumed deceased, despite not having been officially declared so. “Our four crew members were valued members of the Latitude family,” the company emphasized, expressing deep grief over their loss. They stated that the crew dedicated their lives to providing care during critical moments for others, underscoring the mission of compassion that they were fulfilling at the time of the accident.
Peter Byl, the president of Latitude Air Ambulance, indicated on Monday that the organization’s immediate priority is to support the families of the victims while cooperating fully with the relevant authorities. “We will not speculate about the circumstances or cause of the accident while that work is underway,” he wrote in an email, reflecting a commitment to transparency and respect for the ongoing investigation.
The Canadian-registered jet had taken off from L.F. Wade International Airport in Bermuda during the night, and air traffic audio recordings suggest that the aircraft may have been approaching the coast in challenging conditions as a storm developed. The pilot had reported experiencing electrical issues and declared an emergency just before reaching the coastline.
In response to the accident, Canada’s Transportation Safety Board announced that it would be dispatching investigators imminently to aid in the search for and recovery of the aircraft. This agency is leading the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash, working in collaboration with the United States National Transportation Safety Board.
As the investigation unfolds, the bereaved families and communities affected by the loss of these six individuals are left grappling with their profound grief amid the heartbreaking reality of the crash.
