Bahamas Police: Four Killed In Plane Crash Off Grand Bahama Island
NASSAU, Bahamas (CBSMIAMI/AP) — Four people died Sunday,all believed to be U.S. citizens, in a small plane crash off the Bahamas' northernmost island, according to Bahamas police.
Police Superintendent Stephen Dean said the single engine aircraft, a Cirrus SR22, crashed in waters a few miles off Grand Bahama island and all four people aboard were killed.
According to the Bahamas Civil Aviation Department, the nationality of the two men and two men on board is still unverified but Bahamas police say something else.
"All are believed to be Americans. It is thought they were on some kind of sightseeing tour," Dean said.
Emrick Seymour, assistant police commissioner for Grand Bahama, said the plane crashed minutes after takeoff from the island's international airport. He said the pilot radioed that the plane was "experiencing some engine problems."
According to the Bahamas Civil Aviation Department, the group was on a local sightseeing flight in the area of Freeport, Grand Bahama when the aircraft apparently ditched in low waters approximately 7 miles North of the Freeport Control Tower.
A statement from the Royal Bahamas Police Force said the aircraft was destroyed.
Information about the victims' identities was not immediately provided by Bahamian authorities. Seymour said police were "right in the middle of the investigation."
Investigators from the Civil Aviation Department's Air Accident Investigation & Prevention Unit will be conducting an onsite field investigation.
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