A Saskatchewan man was among six people killed in an aircraft crash off the United States east coast last week. The plane, operated by Latitude Air Ambulance, was travelling to Boston from Bermuda at the time. Alberta-based Prairie College confirmed Thomas (Tommy) Henry Farquhar, a 2023 graduate of Prairie Aviation Training Centre (PATC), was on the aircraft. “Tommy’s passion for life and the joy that he had was evident to everyone around him. His relationship with Jesus was very important to him, and his faith impacted every part of his life. Flying with Latitude gave him the opportunity to use his skill and ability and to help those in need, living out his faith in a very real and practical way,” PATC director Dallas Derkson said in a social media post on Thursday. In his honour, the Farquhar family established the Tommy Farquhar Aviation Scholarship Fund at Prairie College, which will support pilots who share his passion for aviation. On Oct. 3, a medical transport aircraft went missing when travelling from Bermuda to Boston amid reported electrical difficulties. The pilot subsequently declared an emergency, after which air traffic controllers lost contact with the plane. Reports suggest it descended rapidly before contact was lost. Crews found a debris field off the coast of Nantucket, Mass., hours later following an extensive search and rescue operation. The four Canadians on board were part of the Ontario air ambulance crew. Their names are Philip Childerhose, who was the captain, Thomas Farquhar, the first officer, Sarah Paton, a flight nurse, and Jolene Weir, a respiratory therapist, according to Latitude Air Ambulance. Marilyn Lavonne Bean, 66, and her son Sergio Wayne Lottimore, 41, were identified as the two Bermudan nationals on the plane, according to Bermuda Police Service. “During this incredibly difficult time, our heartfelt condolences go out to the families and friends impacted by this tragic incident,” read a statement from Rear Adm. Matthew Lake, Commander, of the U.S. Coast Guard Northeast District. “We are grateful to the crews and partner agencies who quickly responded to this incident, and we will continue to support our Canadian partners as they conduct their investigation.” The incident is under investigation by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. The Coast Guard stated it continues to coordinate with Canadian authorities and partner agencies at this time. With files from CTV News Toronto and CP24
