Ten Killed in Crash of Flamingo Air Cessna 402 Near Andros Island

A small passenger aircraft operated by Flamingo Air crashed near San Andros Airport on the island of Andros on Friday, killing all ten people on board, the Bahamas Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority said. The Cessna 402 had departed Nassau shortly after 1 p.m. for a 20-minute flight to the north of the island when it encountered difficulties and struck vegetation near its destination.

Prime Minister Philip "Brave" Davis later confirmed that a single survivor initially rescued from the wreckage later died, raising the confirmed death toll to ten.

Authorities have not released a full list of victims, but a local musical group, Da Pond Band, confirmed that five of its members – Giovanni McKenzie, Mateo Winder, Rashad Storr, Tonique Gilot and Travis Johnson – were among those killed. A DJ, Melvin Henfield, and Andros residents Quintin Myers and Macaro Rolle also died, as did the pilot, Franklyn Cambridge.

Hours earlier, another Flamingo Air flight returned to Nassau after a reported issue and subsequently caught fire after passengers had disembarked; no injuries were reported. In response, regulators have temporarily suspended Flamingo Air’s operating certificate while investigations into both incidents continue.