A single engine Cessna aircraft traveling from Pitts Town, Crooked Island to New Providence with five people onboard crashed 13 miles in waters off New Providence, Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin said last night. All five of the passengers survived, she later said.

Hanna-Martin said in the House of Assembly that she received a report the aircraft went down 13 miles southeast of Nassau sometime around 9 p.m.

"I am advised that an aircraft circling the scene reported that the aircraft was underwater, however, persons were seen in a life raft," she said.

"The Port Department has dispatched a vessel to seek to rescue the individuals. I am not able to say what has happened to individuals on this aircraft.

"It appears that there have been survivors."

Hanna-Martin said around 10:30 p.m., defense force officers spotted the life raft and rescued all five survivors. The Guardian understands that the survivors are Autoria Moss, Lorenzo Moss, Andrew Gibson Jr. and his baby boy Andre and Neko Gibson.

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