Ten people were killed in a fiery plane crash in the Bahamas on Friday, including a popular local DJ and members of the well-known Bahamian music group Da Pond Band. The Bahamas Musicians and Entertainers Union confirmed the deaths on Saturday, stating that the victims' "passion, dedication, and artistry touched so many lives and helped to enrich the cultural fabric of The Bahamas."
The aircraft, identified as a Cessna 402, departed Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau shortly after 1 p.m. with San Andros as its destination. Aviation sources identified the DJ as DJ Fresh. Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis expressed his condolences, stating, "Ann and I are praying for the families who are now facing unbearable grief."
First responders, including the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Airport Authority, and emergency medical personnel, arrived at the crash site, where the plane was engulfed in flames. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority reported that the plane "encountered difficulties" before crashing into dense brush. Investigators from the AAIA and the Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas are at the site to determine the cause of the crash.
The incident occurred on a day marked by two aviation accidents in the Bahamas. In a separate event, a Flamingo Air flight en route to Mayaguana was forced to return to Nassau due to a pilot concern. The aircraft subsequently caught fire on the runway after passengers had deplaned. As a precautionary safety measure, the Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas temporarily suspended Flamingo Air’s air operator certificate.