A devastating aviation tragedy has shaken the Caribbean nation of the Bahamas, leaving 10 people dead after a small passenger plane crashed on the country’s 53rd Independence Day, according to official statements. The Cessna 402 model aircraft, operated by local Bahamas-based carrier Flamingo Air, departed from Lynden Pindling International Airport located just outside the capital city of Nassau for a short domestic flight to San Andros Airport.
The Bahamas Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority reported that the flight crew encountered unexpected difficulties mid-flight before the aircraft crashed into a dense bushy area while it was attempting to approach the destination airport for landing. What was supposed to be a day of national celebration turned into a period of national grief, Prime Minister Philip Davis confirmed during an emergency press briefing shortly after the incident.
“Today is a day of celebration but it has become a day of mourning,” Davis told reporters. “Once again, a chapter in our nation’s story has been marked by tragedy.” Initially, officials believed there was one survivor pulled from the wreckage, but Davis confirmed several hours later that the injured passenger had succumbed to their injuries, bringing the final death toll to 10, including nine passengers and the pilot. As of the latest update, no personal details of those on board, including full names, ages or nationalities, have been released to the public as authorities work to notify next of kin.
In a precautionary safety move following the crash, the Bahamas Ministry of Aviation announced it has temporarily suspended Flamingo Air’s air operator certificate, halting all of the carrier’s commercial operations pending investigation. The ministry clarified that this temporary grounding is not classified as an adverse compliance action against the airline, noting that the decision was made after two separate safety incidents involving the carrier were recorded on the same Friday.
According to CBS News, the BBC’s U.S. news partner, aviation minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis confirmed that an earlier Flamingo Air flight was forced to turn back to Nassau after the pilot reported a mechanical issue mid-flight. After the plane landed safely and all passengers had disembarked, an onboard fire broke out on that aircraft. No injuries were reported in that earlier incident.
The BBC has reached out directly to Flamingo Air for additional comment and more details on the incidents. In an initial statement to local Bahamian media, the airline said that it is currently collecting information and confirming details related to the crash, and that it will fully cooperate with all relevant national authorities as investigations move forward. The crash is currently under full investigation to determine the root cause of the fatal accident.