NANTUCKET, Massachusetts — Authorities have released the identities of the six individuals who were aboard a medical transport jet that disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean while traveling from Bermuda to Boston, a tragedy that has left families, colleagues, and communities in mourning on both sides of the border.
The aircraft, a Gulfstream G100 operating as Heartbeat 104 Medevac for Latitude Air Ambulance, vanished during the early hours of October 3 after the crew reported problems and declared an emergency while en route to Boston.
Following an extensive multi-day search effort, the U.S. Coast Guard announced that active search operations had been suspended after crews covered more than 4,400 square miles over approximately 66 hours. Debris believed to be associated with the aircraft was later located offshore near Nantucket.
Latitude Air Ambulance has since confirmed that all six people aboard the aircraft are presumed dead.
The victims included four Canadian medical flight crew members and two passengers from Bermuda.
The crew members have been identified as Captain Philip Childerhose, First Officer Thomas Farquhar, Flight Nurse Sarah Paton, and Respiratory Therapist Jolene Weir.
According to Latitude Air Ambulance, each member of the crew brought exceptional dedication and professionalism to their work. The company described Childerhose as a pilot with a deep passion for aviation, while Farquhar was remembered as a colleague known for his willingness to help others and support those around him.
Paton was honored as a compassionate nurse whose career centered on caring for patients in need, while Weir was remembered as an experienced respiratory therapist who had long dreamed of working in the air-ambulance field and ultimately achieved that goal through her service.
The passengers aboard the flight were identified as Marilyn Lavonne Bean, 66, of Bermuda, and her son, Sergio Wayne Lottimore, 41.
According to reports, Bean was being transported to Boston to receive medical treatment after suffering a stroke. Her son accompanied her on the flight to provide support during the journey.
News of the tragedy has sent shockwaves through Bermuda, Canada, and the medical transport community, where colleagues and loved ones continue to mourn the loss of six lives dedicated to family, service, and helping others.
Air ambulance operations often involve highly trained professionals who work under demanding circumstances to transport critically ill patients to specialized medical facilities. The loss of an entire medical transport crew, along with the patient and family member they were assisting, has been described by many as particularly heartbreaking.
Tributes have continued to emerge for the crew members, with coworkers recalling their professionalism, compassion, and commitment to patient care. Friends and family members have likewise remembered Bean and Lottimore for their strength, love for family, and the relationships they built within their community.
While the search operation has concluded, the investigation into what caused the aircraft to disappear remains ongoing. Aviation authorities from both the United States and Canada are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the flight and the emergency reported shortly before contact was lost.
Investigators are expected to review flight data, communications records, maintenance information, weather conditions, and debris recovered during the search effort as they work to determine what happened during the aircraft’s final moments.
For now, the focus remains on remembering the lives lost in the tragedy.
The deaths of Captain Philip Childerhose, First Officer Thomas Farquhar, Flight Nurse Sarah Paton, Respiratory Therapist Jolene Weir, Marilyn Lavonne Bean, and Sergio Wayne Lottimore have left an immeasurable void in the hearts of those who knew them.
As families grieve and communities reflect on the tragedy, many are honoring the memory of six individuals whose lives became intertwined on a mission intended to deliver care, hope, and healing.
Their dedication, compassion, and service will be remembered long after the investigation concludes, and their legacy will continue through the countless lives they touched throughout their careers and personal journeys.
