Debris Found in Search for Missing Medical Plane Off Nantucket; Six Aboard Feared Lost

Debris from a missing medical transport plane has been spotted in the Atlantic Ocean off Nantucket, the Coast Guard confirmed Tuesday, all but ending hope for the six people aboard.

The Pilatus PC-12, operated by a private air ambulance company, vanished from radar Monday evening about 15 miles south of the island. It was carrying two pilots, two flight nurses, a physician, and a patient en route to specialized care. Weather at the time included rain, low ceilings, and 25-knot wind gusts.

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A Coast Guard HC-144 aircraft located the debris field in 150-to-200-foot-deep water roughly 12 miles offshore. No survivors have been reported. The National Transportation Safety Board has opened an investigation and will oversee wreckage recovery.

This is the second fatal air ambulance crash in the Northeast in under 18 months. A Learjet 35 went down in the Bronx in May 2024 during a medical transport, killing all three crew. Industry groups have long warned that fatigue, weather pressure, and aging fleets elevate risk in Part 135 medical operations.

Meanwhile, Cornell University President Martha Pollack called a federal Title IX investigation into the school's handling of sexual assault allegations a "defining moment" for the institution. The Education Department's Office for Civil Rights opened the compliance review in 2023 after students alleged systemic delays, retaliation, and inadequate support. Pollack pledged an independent policy review, expanded advocacy resources, and a new case-tracking dashboard by January 2026. Student advocates say structural change — not rhetoric — will be the test.

On the campaign trail, former President Trump announced a proposal to send $90 payments to roughly 58 million Medicare beneficiaries to offset Part B premium costs. The standard premium is $174.70 monthly for 2025. Trump offered no legislative vehicle or funding source; the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates a $5.2 billion price tag. Democrats called it election-year vote-buying 26 days before the midterms.

At the same Ohio rally, Trump predicted a "big surprise" in November. Generic ballot averages show Republicans with a 1.5-point edge — well within the margin of error. The Cook Political Report rates 21 House seats as toss-ups. In the Senate, Democrats defend 23 of 34 seats up this cycle.

In aviation news, a Flydubai co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain with a small axe during a Dubai-to-Muscat flight Sunday. The captain suffered non-life-threatening injuries; the first officer was restrained by cabin crew and arrested. The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority said the co-pilot passed a psychological evaluation in August. The incident raises fresh questions about insider-threat mitigation in cockpits, where reinforced doors prevent external entry but internal risks rely on crew resource management and mental health screening.

Trump also posted Senator Tom Cotton's personal cell number on Truth Social after Cotton opposed making daylight saving time permanent. Cotton, a potential 2028 contender, argues permanent DST would harm children at bus stops and disrupt agriculture. Posting private numbers violates platform doxxing policies; Cotton's office referred the matter to Capitol Police.

In Tennessee, Corrections Commissioner Frank Strada resigned Monday after the failed execution of Christa Pike, the only woman on the state's death row. After 45 minutes of unsuccessful IV attempts, the execution was halted. All three executions since Tennessee resumed capital punishment in 2018 have experienced IV access problems. An internal review found no qualified medical professional on the execution team. Pike's attorneys argue the botched attempt bars a second try under the Eighth Amendment.

Latino Democratic officials urged the Democratic Governors Association to invest heavily in State Rep. Gina Hinojosa's 2026 Texas gubernatorial bid. Texas hasn't elected a Democrat statewide since 1994, but Latino voters now comprise 30% of the electorate, and Governor Greg Abbott won by 11 points in 2022. The DGA has historically prioritized swing states; it has not publicly committed.

New York Times/Siena polls across five battleground states show a dead heat: Biden approval at 41%, generic ballot tied at 47-47, abortion the top issue at 28%, and Trump leading a rematch by 2 points. Third-party candidates draw 12% combined. Republican enthusiasm (72%) edges Democratic (64%).

And in Albuquerque, the 53rd International Balloon Fiesta opened with three minor incidents — two hard landings and a power-line strike — but no serious injuries. The event draws 800,000 visitors and generates $186 million locally.

AVONEWS — Daily News hosts dig into all of this and more on today's episode.