Officials take a body away from the scene of the crash.
TWO women and two men died yesterday when their plane crashed into the sea seven miles off Grand Bahama.
Last night, it was confirmed that the plane was a US registered aircraft, and that the victims were American citizens.
The aircraft was a single engine Cirrus which was completely destroyed upon impact.
Along with representatives of the Bahamas Air/Sea Rescue Association (BASRA), a team of police officers were quickly deployed to the Queen’s Cove area, where the plane crashed. Authorities have yet to identify the cause of the crash.
Last night, a representative of the Flights Standard Inspectorate said the aircraft was definitely not Bahamian. He said the victims are thought to have been sightseeing.
They reportedly left from the Grand Bahama International Airport, and were expected to return there.
According to reports, the visitors had been on Grand Bahama for about week.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Emrick Seymour said they were alerted to the incident at around 11am. He said the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff.
“Information suggests that at some point during the course of the flight taking off they experienced some engine problems, which led to the crash of the aircraft,” he said.
Mr Seymour said police discovered the wreckage at sea and recovered the bodies of four victims.
BASRA also responded and assisted with the recovery of bodies.
Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville said he was saddened by the tragic incident.
“It is an extremely sad day in Grand Bahama,” he said. “Anytime we hear of a tragedy of this nature it all really puts a shock in everybody.”
He commended the RBPF, BASRA, and emergency responders for their performance.
Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe said it is unfortunate that the visitors lost their lives so tragically while on Grand Bahama.
“When we got word of the incident, obviously, it does cause everyone to stop and pause.
“The visitors would have been here for several days now. They had been to other islands, I am told, and they were taking a look at the island to see the beauty of it. And to lose their lives tragically is just something that would cause all of us to pause and say a prayer for them and their families,” he said.
According to a release from the Flight Standard Inspectorate, the Cirrus SR22 bore the United States registration N432BC.
The aircraft was registered to First Class Flyers LLC.
Comments
steplight 11 years ago
WHEN TRUTH IS STRANGER THAN FICTION - A little Black Seminole Indian Bahamian`underage girl gifted in presaging tragic events was removed from going on a flight from Nassau to the PLP Long Island Rally to be attended by Hubert Alexander Ingraham and Paul H.Farquharson rising stars in the Commonwealth Of The Bahamas political arena. The two female Bahamian relative of hers considered that she was evil in saying that the plane was unsafe, would crash and as they laughed at her. She stood amazed how serious it would be to lose persons you care about and if ever they would get a reminder in life of how divine intervention had played a part in her praying they would be alright. It was startling how the incident that unfolded on Remember Day 2013 played out in a different way. The fuel mysteriously evaporated not leaving a drop to ignite Ingraham's flight on impact after the landing gear did not come down and the plane landed on its bottom.Everyone on board lives were spared. Somehow the possibilities of them perishing in that aircrash in the 1970's, never registered. Hopefully the sadness of these four American passengers would remind those four passengers that anyone having another opportunity to walk away from a disaster is not the fate of everyone. Warnings always precede tragic events, it is a matter of whether persons are listening or dismissing what is said and done. Seems to be a reoccuring pattern every time. Sympathy to the families and friends of those who lost their loved one in this tragedy.
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