Published On: Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Three of the eight people killed in yesterday’s plane crash have been identified; pilot Nelson Hanna, BEC worker Cory Farquharson and sound engineer Clarence ‘Nat’ Williams. Authorities confirmed that a Defence Force officer was onboard but did not release his name.
The plane crashed in shallow waters of Lake Killarney moments after taking off from Lynden Pindling International Airport at 12:30 Tuesday afternoon.
The nine-seater Cessna 402 aircraft was reportedly carrying people to San Salvador for the island's homecoming on the upcoming holiday weekend.
Police are asking any eyewitnesses to the crash to contact them at 328-tips to assist with the investigation.
According to Inspector Delvin Major, an accident investigator with Civil Aviation, the plane was operated by the company Acklins Blue. According to the company’s website, pilot Nelson Hanna was also the owner of the airline.
Major said although Hanna had a commercial license, he did not have an air operator’s certificate (AOC), which means he was not authorized to operate private charters. According to Wikipedia, an AOC “requires the operator to have personnel, assets and a system in place to ensure the safety of its employees and the general public. The certificate will list the aircraft types and registrations to be used, for what purpose and in what area - specific airports or geographic region.”
All but one of the deceased is believed to be Bahamian.
Bahamas Electricity Corporation management confirmed that Utility Man Cory Farquharson was one of the victims of the plane crash. He was stationed in San Salvador and had been working with BEC for nearly 22 years.
"Mr Farquharson was a valued member of the BEC team and has made a significant contribution to this corporation during his more than two decades of committed service. He will be sincerely missed by everyone at the Corporation, especially those he worked closely with in the Family Islands Division."
"The Corporation extends its deepest sympathy to the family of Mr Farquharson and indeed the families of all the victims who lost their lives on that ill-fated flight."
Sound engineer Clarence 'Nat' Wiliams was the son of Bishop Clarence Williams of the Church of God of Prophecy and a member of the gospel group Shaback.
San Salvador Local Administrator Terraece Bootle-Bethel said the island community is in mourning for the those who were lost in the crash.
Other passengers who died in crash were not members of Visage, but considered "family" due to their long-standing association with the group, Obie Pindling said.
Police confirmed that seven men were dead by the time emergency personnel arrived at the scene and an eighth man died after being taken to hospital as a result of his injuries.
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