The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A 20-year-old American man is dead and his father is in hospital after their plane crashed in waters near South Bimini shortly after take-off on Friday night.

According to Air Accident Investigation Authority chief investigator, Captain Delvin Major, officials received information about the incident around 10.48 pm.

Initial reports noted that an aircraft had crash landed in waters near the island.

Captain Major said after receiving word of the incident, a team of investigators from the AAIA and Civil Aviation Authority was dispatched to the area early Saturday morning.

Investigations by the team revealed that a Piper Navajo PA-31 aircraft, pictured, registered in the United States, took off from South Bimini International Airport with two men on board.

According to international reports, family members have identified the victims as 59-year-old Andre Wade and 20-year-old Kyle Wade, father and son. Their plane was headed to Opa Locka, Florida.

However, shortly after take-off, the plane crashed in shallow waters at the end of the airport’s runway around 10.10pm.

“Two persons (father and son) were onboard the aircraft at the time,” Captain Major said in a statement released on Saturday.

“The son succumbed to injuries sustained and the father was airlifted to Nassau. Up to press release time, he was being prepared for transfer to the USA to receive medical treatment.

“The pilot was in possession of a valid USA commercial pilot license with appropriate ratings for the aircraft as well as a valid medical certificate.”

Captain Major said Royal Bahamas Police Force officers and Royal Bahamas Defence Force officers as well as OPBAT and Bimini residents assisted with rescue and recovery efforts, “arriving within two minutes of notification”.

“Efforts are underway to retrieve the aircraft from its current location to secure it at a facility where further analysis can be conducted. The AAIA is on site and will continue its investigation to determine the cause of the crash,” he added.

Last month, an aircraft headed to Inagua crashed near Salina Point, Acklins with two Bahamian men onboard. There has been no recovery of the aircraft or its occupants to date.

However, relatives of one of the missing men told The Tribune last month that they have not given up hope and “believe wholly and solely” that he’s alive.