Coast Guard responding to a downed aircraft in the Bahamas

DATE: December 24, 2009 9:56:23 PM EST

US COAST GUARD

News Release

Date:
Dec. 24, 2009

Contact:
Petty Officer 3rd Class Sabrina Elgammal
305-415-6683

Coast Guard responding to a downed aircraft in the Bahamas

MIAMI - Coast Guard crews are searching for two people after receiving a report of a possible downed aircraft approximately 10 miles northeast of Acklin Island, Bahamas, Thursday.

Watchstanders at the Seventh Coast Guard District Command Center in Miami received a call at approximately 1:30 p.m., from an FAA controller, reporting the loss of radar and radio contact with a small twin-engine aircraft. A civilian aircraft pilot transiting the area at the same time contacted the FAA after witnessing an aircraft descend rapidly and possibly crash in the water.

Coast Guard crews are searching the waters in the vicinity of the aircraft's last known position near Acklin Island. The identities of the two passengers are currently being withheld pending next of kin notification.

Searching are:

HC-130 Hercules fixed-wing aircraft crew from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Fla.
HU-25 Falcon jet crew from Coast Guard Air Station Miami
HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater deployed to Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, in support of Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos

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