Search & Rescue Underway for 4 Individuals of Learjet 35 that Crashed into the Ocean off Fort Lauderdale, FL Beach Tuesday Night (Update: 2 Dead, 2 Missing)

According to Flightaware, a Mexican-registered Learjet 35 took off from the airport in Fort Lauderdale, FL on Tuesday; however, crashed soon after in the Atlantic Ocean about 3 miles from the coast. The FAA said that the jet went down about four miles off the coast. The Learjet had a tail identification of XAUSD.   The jet was a medical flight was bound for Cozumel, Mexico after having dropped off a patient. There were four people on board, including 2 pilots, a doctor and a nurse. As per CNN, the two medical staff members worked for Air Evac International and the pilots worked for a chartered company.

According to their website, at AirEvac International, our aircraft are configured as airborne intensive care units specifically for air ambulance transports. AirEvac International provides the highest level of medical transportation care by combining the best medical resources and efficient response times. Our services include:

•Air Ambulance Service
•Bedside-to-Bedside Service
•Commercial Medical Escorts
•Ground Ambulance
•Specialty Care Teams
•Repatriations

Facebook: Air Evac International.

Shortly after take off there was a distress call (audio) from the jet.

A distress call from one of the pilots came just moments after takeoff.

“We have an engine failure,” the pilot said.

An air traffic controller asked him to turn left and keep a certain altitude.

“Not possible,” the pilot responded. “We’re going to do a 180, and we’re going to land.”

But seconds later, he said: “Mayday, mayday, mayday.”

The Coast Gard began an immediate search. A helicopter and 9 vessels were sent out by the Coast Guard and other agencies. More than 50 people are involved in the search. They soon found a debris field.

Pic from Coast Guard – Follow WSVN-TV on Twitter

UPDATE I: The Coast Guard is confirming that two people are dead.

The U.S Coast Guard said that two of these people are confirmed dead while the search for the other two continues.

The pilots reported mechanical problems after takeoff. The plane crashed after taking off from the the Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood Intl. Airport.

The jet went down about three miles off the coast.

A helicopter and 9 vessels were sent out by the Coast Guard and other agencies. More than 50 people

UPDATE II: BNO – Two people confirmed dead as search for plane crash survivors continues.

MIAMI — Two people are confirmed dead as Coast Guard and partner agency rescue crews continue to search for possible survivors of a plane crash approximately three miles off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

At approximately 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, watchstanders at the Coast Guard 7th District command center received a report of a possible plane crash off the Coast of Fort Lauderdale from the Federal Aviation Administration. Search and rescue crews from Coast Guard Station Fort Lauderdale and Coast Guard Air Station Miami were immediately dispatched to begin the search for the aircraft and possible survivors. The Coast Guard Cutter Paul Clark and a Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue boatcrew were also launched to assist.

UPDATE III: Miami Herald releasing possible names of some on board the jet that went down off the Fort Lauderdale coast.

The flight carried two pilots and medical personnel, including a physician tentatively identified by friends as Fernando Senties Nieto and a nurse, Mariana González Isunza, both of Cozumel. Senties’ Facebook page began to fill with condolences early Wednesday.

Mexican media identified the others onboard as pilots José Hiram Galván de la O and Josué Buendía Moreno.
It’s unclear if the pilots were employed by the plane’s last registered owner, AirEvac International. A company spokesman could not be immediately reached for comment.