14 DAY TRIAL // Four United States tourists died on Sunday in Bahamas after their plane crashed off the archipelago's northernmost island.
The incident took place a few miles off Grand Bahama Island at 11:00 a.m. on November 10. A spokesperson for the Bahamas Civil Aviation Department states that Cirrus 22 plane #432BC hit the ground.
According to the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the plane was completely destroyed.
Bahamas Islands Info reported that the aircraft left Grand Bahama International Airport after filing flight plans that described that the passengers would be sightseeing.
They planned to visit the Freeport, Grand Bahama area. The crash took place in shallow water just miles from the Freeport Control Tower.
“Officers of the Royal Bahamas Police Force inclusive of the Police Marine Section and BASRA responded quickly to the area of the crash site.
“The four passengers on board perished and the aircraft was completely destroyed. Investigations into this matter will be conducted by the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Civil Aviation Department and other associated agencies,” the publication informs.
Police Superintendent Stephen Dean mentioned that the aircraft came down four and a half miles off Grand Bahama.
A few minutes after taking off from the international airport on the island, the pilot radioed in and reported “experiencing some engine problems.” CBS Miami informs that the aircraft has crashed after the radio call.
Assistant commissioner of Bahamas Police, Emrick Seymour, notes that officials cannot release the names of the four people on board until their families are notified.
“All are believed to be Americans. It is thought they were on some kind of sightseeing tour,” Dean says. Wish TV identifies the pilot as Tony Wishart, a businessman from Fishers, Indiana. The cause of the crash is still under investigation at this point.