The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a plane carrying four people that went missing as it headed to Titusville for refueling.

  • Plane carrying 4 people goes missing en route to Titusville
  • Plane departed Puerto Rico; final destination was New York
  • Debris field located at about 3:30 p.m. near Eleuthera, Bahamas

The Mitsubishi multi-engine aircraft left Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, at about 11 a.m., Monday, and was headed to North Brevard County to refuel before continuing to Long Island, New York, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

It lost radar contact with the plane around 2:30 a.m., Tuesday.

At about 3:30 p.m., the Coast Guard said a helicopter crew located a debris field approximately 15 miles east of Eleuthera, Bahamas.

The Coast Guard said the twin-prop plane dropped off the radar 37 miles east of Eleuthera, Bahamas. Air traffic controllers out of Miami lost radio contact as the plane flew at 24,000 feet and at a speed of 300 knots.

On board was pilot Nathan Ulrich, of New Hampshire, and Jennifer Blumin, of New York, and her two sons, ages 3 and 4.

"We can confirm that the plane carrying Jennifer Blumin and members of her family has gone missing after taking off from Puerto Rico yesterday. Her family is working with investigators and we politely ask that you respect their privacy at this time," stated Skylight Studios, where Blumin is listed as CEO and founder of the company on her Facebook page. 

The plane left Rafael Hernandez Airport and was heading to Space Coast Regional Airport in Titusville, according to the FAA.

"The only thing we can do is to pull the security footage off the cameras and help aid the investigation if need be," airport Chief Terry Wooldridge said.

Right now, Coast Guard crews are searching an 810-square-mile area for the plane, using a C-130 aircraft, a helicopter from Coast Guard Station Clearwater and a cutter.

Customs and Border Patrol, plus the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, are assisting in the search for the missing plane.

Please check back for updates.