Ten people died Friday in a plane crash in the Bahamas, hours after a separate incident involving the same airline saw another aircraft catch fire. The Cessna 402C Flamingo Air flight crashed shortly after 1 p.m. local time near North Andros, an island west of Nassau, according to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority.
The plane was en route to San Andros from Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau when it reportedly encountered mid-air difficulties. Disturbing video circulating on social media showed the wreckage strewn across a wooded area.
Bahamian police confirmed that one individual initially survived the crash but later succumbed to their injuries. Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles stated that the full flight manifest would not be released until all families had been notified. Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis expressed condolences, noting the country had "mourned too many lives" recently.
The cause of the fatal crash is currently under investigation. In response to the incident, the Bahamian government has temporarily grounded all Flamingo Air flights as a precautionary measure. This decision was prompted by two separate safety incidents involving the airline on Friday.
Earlier in the day, another Flamingo Air flight was forced to return to Nassau after the pilot reported issues, and the plane subsequently burst into flames upon landing. All passengers were safely evacuated from that aircraft.
Flamingo Air, which operates a fleet of nine planes serving 13 destinations, has been involved in eight other accidents since 2012, though none were fatal prior to Friday's crash. The company stated it is cooperating with authorities and extended its condolences to the victims' families.