Bahamas plane crash today: 10 dead as Flamingo Air is grounded

Last updated: July 11, 2026, 8:21 a.m. EDT

Flames and scattered wreckage marked a wooded area in North Andros after a small passenger plane went down during a short domestic flight. All 10 people aboard — nine passengers and the pilot — died after the aircraft encountered difficulties near San Andros Airport. The crash happened on July 10, as the Bahamas was observing its 53rd independence anniversary, and the government has temporarily suspended Flamingo Air's operating certificate while investigators examine two safety incidents involving the carrier that day.

How Events Unfolded

The Cessna 402, registered as C6-FLX, departed Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau and was travelling to San Andros Airport. Preliminary information from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority said the plane reportedly encountered difficulties before crashing into bushes shortly before landing, just after 1 p.m.

Police found the aircraft engulfed in flames. The Royal Bahamas Police Force said nine men and one woman were killed. Prime Minister Philip Davis initially reported that one person had survived, but he later confirmed that the survivor died from their injuries.

The identities and ages of those aboard had not been officially released because authorities were notifying families first. CBS News reported that an aviation source said the passenger manifest included members of Da Pond Band, a well-known Bahamian musical group, and that island DJ Fresh was also believed to have been aboard. Those names had not been formally confirmed by the government in the supplied reports.

Investigators from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority were dispatched with inspectors from the Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas and Airport Authority personnel. The cause of the crash has not been determined.

The Fine Print

The government suspended Flamingo Air's air operator certificate after two safety incidents involving the airline on the same day. The Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Aviation described the suspension as a precaution and said it should not be treated as an adverse compliance action against the carrier.

Earlier that morning, another Flamingo Air flight was heading to Mayaguana when its pilot reported a concern and returned to Nassau. Aviation Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis said the plane caught fire after landing and after everyone aboard had evacuated. No deaths were reported in that incident, which is also under investigation.

The close timing of the two events explains why regulators acted before investigators had identified a cause. Temporarily grounding the airline prevents further departures while authorities inspect aircraft, operating procedures and any possible connection between the incidents.

Air operator certificate

Government authorization allowing an airline to conduct commercial flights.

Cessna 402

A light twin-engine aircraft used for short passenger and regional routes.

Preliminary investigation

The first evidence-gathering stage before investigators issue final findings about a crash.

The Response

Davis addressed the country during what had been planned as a national day of celebration. He said the independence anniversary had become a day of mourning and offered condolences to families who had learned that their loved ones would not return home.

We owe that to families and integrity of investigation.

His comment accompanied a warning against circulating unverified passenger information. Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles said the full flight list would remain private until relatives had been contacted directly.

Flamingo Air confirmed that it owned the aircraft and said it was gathering details, cooperating with authorities and extending condolences to the victims' families. Opposition Leader Michael Pintard also pledged support for efforts aimed at improving aviation safety through a joint committee.

Putting It in Perspective

The crash affects more than one route. Flamingo Air's temporary grounding can disrupt travel between Nassau and smaller Bahamian communities that depend on short regional flights. The supplied reports do not specify how long the suspension will last or what alternative arrangements may be available to affected passengers.

For Canadian travellers, the immediate lesson is practical: passengers with Flamingo Air bookings should verify their flight status directly before travelling within the Bahamas. No source provided details of Canadian victims, Canadian government involvement or broader restrictions affecting international flights.

The investigation will also determine whether the fatal crash and the earlier aircraft fire share any technical or operational factors. Until that work is completed, authorities have not assigned blame to the airline, the crew or any mechanical system.

Looking Ahead

Investigators will examine the wreckage, flight records and circumstances surrounding the reported difficulties before landing. Authorities are also investigating the earlier Flamingo Air fire in Nassau.

Officials are expected to release passenger identities only after all families have been notified. The future of Flamingo Air's operating certificate will depend on the safety review and any findings produced by aviation regulators.