What happened
During a scheduled repositioning flight, a jet airplane was operating in a stable, level cruise at an altitude of 39,000 feet mean sea level. While the aircraft was in this phase of flight, the pilot stopped responding to all communications from air traffic controllers.
Following the loss of contact, the aircraft continued on its trajectory for more than 300 miles beyond its intended destination airport. The flight eventually entered a descent, resulting in an impact with the Atlantic Ocean. There were no survivors reported, as neither the pilot nor the aircraft were ever located following the incident.
Findings
Investigations into the event were limited by the lack of wreckage or recovered flight recorders. Because the aircraft and the pilot were not recovered, the specific reason for the descent and subsequent impact with the water could not be established. The loss of pilot responsiveness remains the primary event noted prior to the disappearance.