A short flight to an Independence Day celebration in the Bahamas ended in tragedy when a small passenger plane crashed while trying to land, killing all 10 people on board.
The Cessna 402, operated by Flamingo Air, had left Nassau shortly after 1 p.m. on July 10. It was headed for San Andros Airport on Andros Island, the Bahamas’ largest island.
The trip should have taken about 20 minutes.
Instead, the aircraft ran into trouble just before landing. According to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority, the plane “encountered difficulties and crashed into bushes prior to landing.”
Several of the victims were well-known local musicians who had been traveling to perform at an Independence Day event on the island.
Among those killed were five members of the popular Caribbean group Da Pond Band: Giovanni McKenzie, Mateo Winder, Rashad Storr, Tonique Gilot, and Travis Johnson.
Melvin Henfield, better known as DJ Fresh, was also among the victims.
The deaths have left the country’s music community in shock, turning what was supposed to be a holiday celebration into a devastating day of mourning.
Authorities have not yet said what caused the crash.
The investigation remains ongoing.
