A small passenger aircraft carrying 11 people crashed off the Florida coast earlier this week following an in-flight emergency declaration, and Bahamian aviation investigators have confirmed they will not lead a probe into the incident due to jurisdictional boundaries.
The Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) of The Bahamas released an official statement outlining its decision, confirming the plane departed from Abaco in The Bahamas, bound for Grand Bahama, when the pilot declared an emergency. The crash occurred approximately 50 miles northwest of Vero Beach, Florida, placing the incident outside of Bahamian territorial waters.
Of the 11 people on board, a number of whom hold Bahamian nationality, all were pulled from the water alive by rescue teams. Three individuals sustained minor injuries during the crash, though the AAIA noted that current information on the latest condition of those injured has not been confirmed.
Per international aviation investigation protocols, the AAIA has formally notified all relevant governing bodies of its decision to cede investigative authority. That includes Panama, the country where the aircraft is registered, and the United States, which is both the state of design and manufacture for the plane.
While the Bahamian body will not lead the probe, it has offered full cooperation to the agencies taking over the investigation, stating it is prepared to provide logistical coordination and targeted assistance if requested. The AAIA also emphasized it will not release unconfirmed speculation about potential causes of the crash, details of the aircraft’s condition before the incident, or the full scope of injuries and damage sustained, pending formal investigation by the lead authority.