Bahamas Grounds Flamingo Air After Fatal Plane Crash Kills 10

A small passenger aircraft crashed in the Bahamas on Friday, killing all 10 people on board and triggering an extensive investigation as authorities moved swiftly to address growing concerns over aviation safety .

The aircraft, identified by the Bahamian Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority as a Cessna 402 operated by Flamingo Air , departed Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau for San Andros before crashing in North Andros , west of the capital. Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis initially reported that one person had survived the crash, but later confirmed that the individual had succumbed to their injuries, bringing the death toll to 10. The identities of the victims have not yet been released.

Addressing the nation on the Bahamas' 53rd Independence Day , Davis described the tragedy as a day of mourning and extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.

The Bahamian Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority has launched a formal probe to determine the cause of the crash. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft's condition, operational records, weather conditions and other factors that may have contributed to the accident.

In response to the tragedy, the Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Aviation temporarily suspended Flamingo Air's Air Operator Certificate as a precautionary measure while the investigation is underway. Officials said the suspension also followed another safety incident involving the airline earlier on Friday, when a flight bound for Mayaguana returned to Nassau after the pilot reported a technical concern. The aircraft caught fire after passengers had safely disembarked, with no injuries reported.

Authorities said the suspension is intended to ensure aviation safety while investigators examine both incidents. Emergency responders were deployed immediately after the crash, and officials pledged a thorough investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding one of the country's deadliest recent aviation accidents.