SOURCE NATURE ISLE NEWS- The owner of a missing aircraft that crashed in the southeastern part of Dominica was in excellent condition, its owner told French media outlet RCI.
The owner, who was not named, told RCI by phone that it was also “well equipped and that it is on this aircraft that [he] prefers to fly.”
The ill-fated 4-seater Cessna 172, departed Douglas-Charles Airport at 3:46 PM on Sunday, January 26, 2025, and was en route to Martinique when communication was lost.
A massive search and rescue operation was mounted and by early Monday afternoon, reports indicated it was sighted on the side of a mountain.
According to RCI, those on board the aircraft were all Martinicans. Two of them were young pilots. The main pilot was just 20 years old and, despite his age, was said to be “a good one.”
“The other two passengers are, according to our information, the pilot’s cousin and another friend…,” RCI reported.
Jean-Benoît Agathe, 21, who was at the controls, on Sunday, of the Cessna 172 S, the wreck of which was found yesterday afternoon, in Dominica. Photo credit online
Based on the experience of the pilots, the owner believes weather conditions may have been a factor in the incident. Throughout the weekend, Dominica was lashed by heavy rains and high winds. Additionally, Martinique was on Yellow Vigilance for “heavy rain and thunderstorms,” according to RCI.
The outlet also reported that Dominica has formally requested assistance from France and the prefecture of Martinique has responded favorably.
“This will allow us to send additional reinforcements on site quickly,” it said.
Since Sunday, a helicopter from the gendarmerie of Martinique, a Griffon 972, has been flying over the probable crash site.
This is not the first time an aircraft has crashed in Dominica.
On August 23, 1998, the island suffered its worst air disaster when Cardinal Airline Flight 947 from St. Maarten to Dominica disappeared and crashed around 5:33 PM, on approach to the then-Melville Hall Airport. Ten Dominicans and the pilot perished on that fateful day.
In April 2019, a mountain crash near the Douglas-Charles Airport resulted in one fatality
February of the following year, a Piper F-OGKO crashed into the sea near the same airport, killing four people (two pilots and two passengers). The aircraft was en route to Guadeloupe.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
