Bahamas plane crash kills 10 as Flamingo Air flights are grounded

A Flamingo Air Cessna 402 crashed near North Andros on Friday, killing all 10 aboard. The disaster plunged the Bahamas' independence anniversary into mourning and triggered a precautionary flight suspension.

In Short

• The Cessna 402 left Nassau for San Andros before going down
• Prime Minister Davis said early survivor hopes ended with injuries proving fatal
• The tragedy overshadowed the Bahamas' 53rd independence anniversary celebrations nationwide

A small plane crashed in the Bahamas on Friday, killing all 10 people on board, as the government temporarily grounded Flamingo Air flights while investigators began examining the incident.

Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis said one person was initially believed to have survived, but later died of injuries. The crash turned celebrations for the Bahamas' 53rd independence anniversary into a day of mourning, and the victims have not been publicly identified.

The crash took place in North Andros, in waters west of Nassau, the archipelago's capital. The Bahamian Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority said the Cessna 402 aircraft, registered in the Bahamas, had left Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau and was headed to San Andros when it went down.

"We gather beneath a cloud of great sorrow," Davis said, noting that people were celebrating the country's independence anniversary. "It has become a day of mourning. ... To every family that has received the devastating news, that someone they love will not be coming home, we offer our deepest condolences."

The Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Aviation said the suspension of Flamingo Air's air operator certificate was a precautionary safety measure while officials investigate the cause of the crash. The ministry said the move followed two safety incidents on Friday.

At a press conference, Energy, Utilities and Aviation Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis said the first incident involved a Flamingo Air plane that was on its way to Mayaguana. She said the pilot reported a concern and returned to Nassau, and after the aircraft landed and passengers got off, it caught fire. That incident is also under investigation.

Authorities are investigating both incidents after the North Andros crash killed 10 people and led to a precautionary suspension of Flamingo Air flights.

With PTI Inputs

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