Five members of the popular Bahamian musical group Da Pond Band were among the ten people killed when a small plane crashed in North Andros on Friday. The victims were identified on social media and through a flight manifest for the Flamingo Air flight, a Cessna 402 with registration C6-FLX.
The flight was intended to be a 20-minute journey from Nassau to San Andros. Authorities stated that the plane encountered difficulties and crashed into bushes prior to landing. Footage from the scene showed the aircraft's smoldering wreckage scattered across a wooded area.
Among the identified victims were Quinton Myers, Mateo Winder, Rashad Storr, Giovanni McKenzie, and Travis Johnson. The pilot, Franklyn Cambridge, also perished in the crash. Lamar Polhamus, another member of Da Pond Band, confirmed the loss of five members, describing them as the "core, the heart, and the life of the band."
Shaniese Miller, a surviving band member, posted on Facebook that she was alive. Tributes have also been paid to DJ Fresh, real name Melvin Henfield, who was also on board.
The crash occurred on the 53rd anniversary of the Bahamas' independence. Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis stated that the day had become "a day of mourning" and offered condolences to the victims' families. Initially, it was reported that one survivor had been pulled from the wreckage, but this individual later died from their injuries.
Flamingo Air confirmed the fatal crash and extended its condolences, stating the company is cooperating with authorities. The Bahamas Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Aviation temporarily suspended the airline's air operator certificate as a "precautionary safety measure." This suspension was also linked to a separate incident earlier that day involving another Flamingo Air flight, which experienced an issue en route to Mayaguana, returned to Nassau, and caught fire after passengers evacuated, though no one died in that event.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority of The Bahamas is investigating the crash, emphasizing that the investigation is in its preliminary stages and no cause has yet been determined. They stated that any information available is preliminary and subject to change as evidence is analyzed.