Plane crashes into sea, three survivors rescued
The plane, a 1977 six-seat Piper PA-23 250 Aztec F, had three people on board. It had left Grand Case Airport en route to St. Barths when both engines lost power. The pilot sent out a Mayday message and the plane descended into the sea approximately two miles Northeast of the coast of Guana Bay at 4:50pm.
The aircraft was owned by Wells Fargo Bank Northwest Na Trustee, a corporation registered in Utah, United States, and the two men and a woman on board were all American citizens. The aircraft was used regularly to fly between St. Maarten, St. Barths and surrounding islands.
The rescue operation was coordinated between the Dutch and the French Coast Guards. Three Coast Guard boats and two Sea Rescue boats went in search of survivors, assisted by the Voyager ferry and a local helicopter.
According to a press release issued by the Sint Maarten police late last night, patrols also were sent to the Guana Bay and Dawn Beach areas to try to locate where the plane had gone down. "With the assistance of a witness the police were able to communicate with emergency services and direct them to where the aircraft had gone down," police spokesman Inspector Ricardo Henson stated in the press release.
By 6:10 p.m. the crew of the Voyager had rescued the plane's occupants from the rough seas. All three were alive and had no serious injuries. The aircraft had sunk to the bottom of the sea.
The three were taken to Bobby's Marina by a Sea Rescue boat, where they were met by paramedics, were treated on the scene for facial injuries and were reported to have significant facial bruising. They were transported to St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) where they received further treatment.
"Due to good coordination and input from all emergency services and the Voyager all three victims were rescued before nightfall. An investigation into the cause of the incident will follow," Henson said.
Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com
Aircraft crashes after takeoff from St. Barths Monday, American passengers rescued with minor injuries
PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - A Piper Aztec twin engine aircraft crashed on Monday afternoon two and a half miles out of Guana Bay.
At approximately five (5pm) we got news that the aircraft with three American Nationals on board had gone down.
The aircraft which originated from St. Barths had just departed Grand Case and was en route to St. Barths when it crashed for unknown reasons. Apparently both engines of the aircraft died on the pilot before he ditched.
This is usually a sign of fuel contamination or fuel-line blockage however the cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
The three passengers on board of the aircraft are alive and were rescued and brought to shore in St. Maarten.
The passengers were initially rescued by the Voyager vessel and brought to shore by the St. Maarten Sea Rescue and was rushed to the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) where they were treated for minor injuries
The plane crashed in the corridor between St. Martin and St. Barths.
Story and comments/reaction: http://www.sxmislandtime.com
Plane crash near Sint Maarten
PHILLIPSBURG, St. Maarten – A Piper Aztec twin engine aircraft crashed on Monday afternoon two and a half miles out of Guana Bay.
At approximately five (5pm) we got news that the aircraft with three American Nationals on board had gone down. The aircraft which originated from St. Barths had just departed Grand Case and was en route to St. Barths when it crashed for unknown reasons. Apparently both engines of the aircraft died on the pilot before he ditched. This is usually a sign of fuel contamination, however the cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
The three passengers on board of the aircraft are alive and were rescued and brought to shore in St. Maarten. The passengers were initially rescued by the Voyager vessel and brought to shore by the St. Maarten Sea Rescue and was rushed to the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) where they were treated for minor injuries.. The plane crashed in the corridor between St. Martin and St. Barths.
Source: http://www.curacaochronicle.com
Piper Aztec Plane Ditched into Sea after Both Engines Failed --- All three passengers saved by Sea Rescue.
PHILIPSBURG:--- An Piper Aztec aircraft ditched into the sea about one and half miles east of Guana Bay on Monday afternoon when both of its engine failed.
St. Maarten Sea Rescue responded to the scene minutes after the incident and managed to rescue all three persons that were on board the aircraft.
SMN News understands that the aircraft left St. Barths and was on its way to Grand Case Airport when the pilot realized both engines on the aircraft had failed. A member of the St. Maarten Sea Rescue said the pilot then decided to ditch into the sea to avoid a serious crash. In doing so, he managed to save the lives of all three persons on board.
No official information from the police has been released up to the time this article is published.
Story and comments/reaction: http://www.smn-news.com
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