Eight people were killed early Tuesday afternoon when a small passenger plane crashed near Nassau-Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) on the island of New Providence in the Bahamas, officials said.
The small Cessna 402 aircraft took off from Lynden Pindling International Airport at approximately 12.30 p.m. EDT on a flight to San Salvador, located in the southern Bahamas. It crashed minutes later into Lake Killarney.
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham confirmed that the pilot and all seven passengers were killed in the accident. “My colleagues and I learned with great sadness of the crash of a Cessna 402 this afternoon,” Ingraham said. “Tragically, eight persons, the pilot of the aircraft and his seven passengers, perished in the crash.”
Ingraham added that all passengers on board are believed to have been Bahamian nationals.
“On behalf of the Government and people of our nation I extend deepest condolences to the families and friends of each of the individuals who met their untimely deaths early this afternoon,” the prime minister said. “All relevant government agencies are lending their assistance in this tragic matter. Further, a thorough investigation of the crash will be conducted by the relevant authorities.”
Few details about the victims were immediately released, but the Bahamas Electricity Corporation confirmed that one of its employees had been killed in the crash. “The Management and Staff of The Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) are filled with great sadness today as we have regrettably lost one of our colleagues in a tragic plane accident,” the company said in a statement.
The Bahamas Electricity Corporation identified the victim as Cory Farquharson, a utility man stationed in San Salvador who had been with the company for nearly 22 years. “Mr. Farquharson was a valued member of the BEC team and has made a significant contribution to this Corporation during his more than two decades of committed service,” the company said. “He will be sincerely missed by everyone at the Corporation especially those he worked closely with in the Family Islands Division.”
Officials said the aircraft was registered to Acklins Blue Company, an air charter company based in the Bahamas that also provides training and instruction.
