Bahamas’ Deadliest Aviation Tragedy: Flamingo Air’s Fatal Cessna 402 Crash
A devastating aviation tragedy struck the Bahamas on July 10, 2026, coinciding with the country’s 53rd Independence Day. A Flamingo Air Cessna 402C (registration C6-FLX, manufactured in 1982) crashed into dense brush in the North Andros area, claiming the lives of all 10 people on board.
The aircraft, which had departed from Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau, was on a routine 36-mile (58 km), approximately 15-minute hop to San Andros Airport. It encountered difficulties during the approach phase and went down at approximately 1:00 PM local time.
Emergency responders arrived to find the aircraft engulfed in flames, with extensive fire damage to the fuselage, tail, and right wing. Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis confirmed in a press conference that all 10 occupants perished. Among those killed were members of The Pond Band and DJ Fresh, as confirmed by the Bahamas Musicians and Entertainers Union.
The crash marks the deadliest aviation incident in Bahamian history. In a tragic twist, a second Flamingo Air incident occurred the same day: a Beech 99 flying to Mayaguana was forced to return to Nassau after the pilot reported a concern, and the aircraft subsequently caught fire on the ground.
In response, the Bahamian Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Aviation temporarily suspended Flamingo Air’s Air Operator Certificate as a precautionary safety measure. A full investigation by the Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas is currently underway.
Source: Simple Flying – Bahamian Flamingo Air Grounded After 10 Killed In Cessna 402 Crash