NASSAU, Bahamas – Eight men were killed when a small charter plane crashed into Lake Killarney in Nassau on Tuesday shortly after takeoff from Lynden Pindling International Airport.
The twin-engine Cessna was en route to San Salvador but crashed into the lake after one of its engines caught fire, everyone on the plane was killed. Seven died instantly and one died on the way to the hospital, with injuries resulting from a broken neck. Everyone on board was Bahamian.
Aviation officials are investigating the cause of the fatal crash. At this point it has been revealed that the Acklins Blue Air Charter company was not properly registered with the Civil Aviation Department. The doomed flight, which was operated by veteran pilot Nelson Hanna, was not certified.
This is the most tragic air traffic accident the Bahamas has experienced since the 2005 crash of a Chalk’s plane just off Miami.
