Aircraft crash victims rescued by fisherman

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - PASSENGERS of a twin-engine aircraft, which departed the RLB International Airport yesterday (Jan. 3) and had crash landed some 17 miles of the Turks and Caicos Airport, are reportedly safe after being rescued by a fisherman.

According to a media statement from the St. Christopher Air and Seaports Authority, the flight departed the RLB International Airport for the Turks and Caicos Islands  and had made an emergency water landing at about 11:00 a.m. off Salt Cay.

The agency disclosed that there were four occupants of the flight with three being  nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis and the other from Costa Rica.

However, a statement from the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force informed that its officers, along with officials from the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies, the Fire Department and Emergency Services were engaged in a search and rescue operation off the coast of Grand Turk following calls of a plane crash.

It disclosed that preliminary reports received had stated that at 11.40 a.m. a call was placed to the 911 Operations Center, stating a flight originating from St. Kitts with four persons crashed 17 miles south-east of the Airport.

“Following an intensive and exhaustive combined operation, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force can confirm the four individuals involved in this morning’s (January 03) aircraft crash were rescued this afternoon around 3:39 p.m.,” the statement read.

In a brief comment on the rescue operation, Acting Assistant Superintendent of Police Michael Francois thanked the public for their assistance, especially the fisherman who carried out the rescue.

“I, especially, want to thank fisherman Kellison Talbot who did an exceptional job in this rescue. He displayed courage and selflessness by placing his life on the line. Additionally, from the initial report received, the RTCIPF acted without hesitation by cordoning off a section at the beach and established a Command Centre.”

Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing.