Three rescued by fishing crew after plane goes down near the Bahamas, Coast Guard says
Three people were rescued after their small plane crashed into the water near the Bahamas on Thursday, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
A “good Samaritan” fishing crew rescued them about 20 miles east of Bimini, USCG Southeast confirmed Thursday afternoon. The people were transferred to Bahamian officials in Cat Cay.
There were no reported injuries.
The fixed wing multi-engine plane had left Great Harbour Cay in the Bahamas and was headed to Florida, said Delvin Major, chief investigator with the Bahamas Air Accident Investigation Department.
The plane “N-40702” is a 1973 Piper PA-34-200 and is registered under 5 J Aviation Services LLC, which is based in Miami-Dade, according to FAA records.
A spokesman said the Coast Guard sent “five assets” including a helicopter and an auxiliary plane to where the plane was reportedly sighted. The fishing crew got there first.
The Bahamas Air Accident Investigation Department is the lead investigator. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will be assisting in the investigation.
All updates will be posted on the Bahamas Air Accident Investigation website at www.baaid.org
This story was originally published August 8, 2019 at 12:08 PM.
