BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – REPORTS reaching this publication state that a third person was confirmed dead and the fourth individual is in a critical condition at the Mount St. John’s Medical Centre following yesterday’s (Oct. 7) plane crash at the VC Bird International Airport in Antigua.
Reports also indicate that those dead are the pilot of the ill-fated aircraft, Captain Jason Forbes of Antigua who is said to be in his 30s, a female Jamaican national who taught Mathematics at the Montserrat Secondary School, and a Guyanese national who was on her way to visit her daughter in Montserrat.
The third passenger on the small aircraft, who is in a critical condition at the hospital, is said to be a young male resident of Montserrat.
Yesterday, at approximately 4:16 p.m., the nine-seater Britten-Norman BN2 A Islander, Registration Fly Montserrat flight 107, destined for Montserrat, had taken off from the VC Bird International Airport’s Runway Seven and crashed onto Runway 10 shortly after being airborne.
Earlier reports suggested that weather conditions may have been a factor in the unfortunate incident, as there were heavy rains, thunder and lightning during the time of the crash. However, recent information reaching SKNVibes indicates that the weather was clear at the time of takeoff.
According to Fly Montserrat spokesperson Karen Allen, the airline is still in the process of information gathering concerning the tragedy and that a statement would soon be issued.
