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Two plane crashes in the Bahamas, including the death of a plane in North Andros and a separate plane fire on Friday, prompted the government to suspend operations of the local airline and launch a safety investigation.
Shortly after 1 p.m. local time on Friday, the Bahamian-registered Cessna 402 took off from Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau for San Andros Airport.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) said the plane “encountered difficulties” and crashed into a bush before landing.
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Authorities say 10 people were killed in a plane crash in the Bahamas on Friday. (Our Bahamas News via AP)
First responders, including the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Airport Authority and emergency services, rushed to the crowded area where the plane went down.
The Bahamas Musicians and Entertainers Union confirmed in a statement on Saturday that 10 people died in the accident, including prominent members of “The Pond Band” and a local DJ, whose art the union said “has touched many lives and helped enrich the cultural fabric of the Bahamas.”
Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis said one survivor had been evacuated from the crash.
“Ann and I are praying for the families now dealing with unbearable grief,” Davis wrote in a statement on X. “We are praying for the survivor, his recovery and care will always be in our thoughts.”
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The bodies of those who died in the accident have not yet been revealed.
Although initial AAIA reports initially indicated that there were seven people on board, officials are still determining the details of the flight.
Just hours before the fatal crash in North Andros, a Flamingo Air flight en route to Mayaguana was forced to return to Nassau after the pilot reported concerns, according to the Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Aviation (MoET).
After the plane landed and the passengers got off safely, the plane caught fire on the runway.
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FILE – The Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas has temporarily suspended Flamingo Air’s Air Operator Certificate following two plane incidents on Friday. (Stock)
Following two consecutive safety incidents, the Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas (CAAB) has temporarily suspended Flamingo Air’s Air Operator Certificate, according to MoET officials.
“The suspension is a precautionary measure and should not be taken as a negative action against Flamingo Air,” the agency wrote in a statement.
FILE – A plane crashed in North Andros on Friday after taking off from Lynden Pindling International Airport. (Melissa Alcena/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
AAIA investigators and CAAB investigators remain at the scene in North Andros as they try to determine what caused the Cessna 402 crash.
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Flamingo Air did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
