Authorities in Bermuda on Oct. 4 identified two Bermudian nationals aboard a medical transport jet that crashed in the Atlantic Ocean off Nantucket, Massachusetts, as investigators worked to determine why the aircraft went down.
The Bermuda Police Service said the victims were Marilyn Lavonne Bean, 66, and her 41-year-old son, Sergio Wayne Lottimore. The pair were among six people aboard a Gulfstream G100, operated by Latitude Air Ambulance, that went missing early on Oct. 3 while traveling from Bermuda to the Boston area.
The identifications came a day after the U.S. Coast Guard suspended rescue efforts. Crews spent roughly 66 hours searching about 4,445 miles of ocean after contact was lost with the aircraft, eventually locating a debris field
that was confirmed to be associated with the missing jet, according to the Coast Guard.
Latitude Air Ambulance, based in Ontario, Canada, confirmed on Oct. 4 that the four members of its team, a patient and the patient's family escort who were aboard the flight were presumed dead.
The Bermuda government extended its condolences to the family and loved ones of Bean and Lottimore, as well as to those of the four other people aboard the plane.
"While we held out hope for the best, the worst fears have been realized, and so our first thoughts are with the families of those so tragically lost," Bermuda Premier David Burt said in a statement on Oct. 5. "Let us open our hearts to the families in the hope that our expressions of love, support and compassion will bring some comfort as they attempt to deal with this terrible loss."
Canada to lead investigation into crash
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada said on Oct. 5 that it will lead the investigation into the crash. The agency said it will be assisted by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, which will participate as an "accredited representative."
Investigators will be deployed in the coming days to assist with search and recovery operations involving the aircraft, according to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.
The agency said the Gulfstream G100 departed Bermuda with six occupants and was approaching the Boston area when the crew reported electrical difficulties. The aircraft subsequently descended rapidly, and air traffic control lost contact with it south of Nantucket.
According to data from flight tracking website FlightAware, the aircraft departed Bermuda at 12:41 a.m. local time and headed to Boston Logan International Airport. The jet was flying at about 24,000 feet for much of the trip before descending to 13,000 feet in about two minutes shortly before flight controllers lost contact, data showed.
Local TV station Boston 25 posted an audio clip from Boston Logan International Airport in which an air traffic controller can be heard asking the Gulfstream pilot, "You said you're coming in blind? Is that what you said?"
The controller then asked whether the plane was declaring an emergency. No response was heard.
Latitude Air Ambulance, which provides medical evacuation services, said it will work with the NTSB, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, and other authorities during recovery efforts and the investigation into why the aircraft crashed.
'Heartbroken by the loss of a respected leader, colleague and friend'
Warwick Academy in Bermuda, where Lottimore graduated in 2002, was among those paying tribute to Bean and Lottimore on Oct. 5.
"The Warwick Academy community is deeply saddened by the news that former student Sergio Wayne Lottimore, Class of 2002, and his mother, Marilyn Lavonne Bean, are presumed to have died in the air ambulance tragedy off Nantucket," the school said in a statement.
The school said Lottimore was a school prefect and described him as "an outstanding person" who would be remembered fondly by those who knew him. The school extended condolences to the family and friends of both victims and to the loved ones of everyone aboard the flight.
Hamilton Re, where Lottimore served as senior vice president and head of specialty reinsurance, also shared its condolences to the victims.
“We are profoundly saddened by the loss of our colleague, Sergio Lottimore,” the company said in a statement. "The entire Hamilton team is heartbroken by the loss of a respected leader, colleague and friend. Our thoughts are with Sergio's family and loved ones, and all those affected by this tragedy."
Coast Guard suspends search for victims
Searchers located the aircraft's debris field late on Oct. 3 in waters estimated to be 80 to 90 feet deep, according to the Coast Guard. Rear Adm. Matthew Lake, commander of the Coast Guard's Northeast District, described the crash site as part of a "large and demanding search area" that required extensive air and sea resources.
After crews found no sign of survivors, the Coast Guard announced it was suspending rescue operations.
"Suspending a search is not an easy decision," Lake said in a statement on Oct. 4. "We express our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones affected by the tragedy."
Contributing: Reuters
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mother, son from Bermuda identified in medical jet crash off Nantucket
