Tue, Jul 15, 2003
Adults Held Kids Over Their Heads, to Keep Their Heads Above
Water
The Air Sunshine Cessna 402 (file
photo, right) radioed a Mayday while nearing Treasure Cay, Bahamas
on Sunday. The pilot had a problem with the starboard engine,
according to his Mayday call at 3:35PM, made just moments before
the airplane (which had departed Ft Lauderdale at 2:25) hit the
surf, nine miles shy of the airport. A fellow pilot relayed the
information to the FAA, and the search was begun. Thanks to the
fellow pilot and fast rescue efforts, nearly everyone survived.
The body of a female passenger was recovered. There is
another passenger reported in critical condition; the
four children aboard the flight are reportedly going to make it.
[Note: we have another report, also unconfirmed, that a 3-year-old
girl died in the crash --ed.]
That the kids are doing well is a tribute to the adults, who,
according to local reports, hoisted the little ones over their
heads, to give them a chance to breathe.
Eight of the survivors were taken to Rand Memorial Hospital in
Freeport, Bahamas; the ninth survivor "isn't here," according to a
spokesman, who didn't know where the ninth person was.
** Report created 7/14/2003 Record
11 **
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 314AB
Make/Model: C402 Description: 401,
402, Utililiner, Business
Date: 07/13/2003 Time: 2230
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury:
Fatal Mid Air: N Missing:
N
Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
City: TREASURE CAY BAHAMAS
State: Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIR SUNSHINE N314AB, C402C, DITCHED IN THE OCEAN UNDER
UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, TEN PERSONS WERE ON BOARD, ONE WAS FATALLY
INJURED, ONE SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES, NINE MILES WEST OF
TREASURE CAY, BAHAMAS
INJURY DATA Total Fatal:
1
# Crew: 1 Fat:
0 Ser:
0 Min:
1 Unk:
# Pass: 9 Fat:
1 Ser:
1 Min:
7 Unk:
# Grnd:
Fat: 0 Ser:
0 Min:
0 Unk:
WEATHER: UNK
OTHER DATA
Activity: Business Phase:
Unknown Operation: Air Taxi (On
Demand)
Departed: FORT LAUDERDALE,
FL Dep Date:
07/13/2003 Dep. Time: 1827
Destination: TREASURE CAY,
BAH Flt Plan:
UNK Wx
Briefing: U
Last Radio Cont: UNK
Last Clearance: UNK
FAA FSDO: FT LAUDERDALE, FL
(SO17)
Entry date: 07/14/2003
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