Flamingo Air crash kills 10 in Bahamas; airline operations suspended

A Flamingo Air Cessna 402 crashed near North Andros, Bahamas, on July 10, killing all 10 people aboard, including five members of The Pond Band and a DJ. The airline's operations have been suspended pending investigation.

What happened

The aircraft (registration C6-FLX) departed Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau at around 1:00 p.m. local time, bound for San Andros. It crashed in a wooded area near the airport. Initially, one survivor was reported, but the 24-year-old later died from injuries Source: portafolioco; infobae.

Investigation

The Bahamas Police and AAIA are examining all aspects: aircraft, flight operations, maintenance, weather, and air traffic control Source: portafolioco. The Civil Aviation Authority suspended Flamingo Air's Air Operator Certificate after two safety incidents that day—the crash and a separate engine fire on another Flamingo Air flight that returned to Nassau Source: clarin; lavozar.

The victims

Nine passengers and the pilot died. Five were members of The Pond Band (Giovanni McKenzie, Rashad Storr, etc.) and one was DJ Melvin Henfield, all described as “some of the most talented and dynamic members of our entertainment community” by the Bahamas Musicians Union Source: infobae. The pilot was Franklyn Cambridge Source: portafolioco.

Reactions

Prime Minister Philip Davis called it “a day of mourning” on Independence Day, offering condolences to families Source: clarin. The police are withholding victim identities until families are notified Source: clarin.