Investigators Comb Andros Crash Site for Answers

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NORTH ANDROS, BAHAMAS – With only hours since the bodies of the crash victims were brought to Nassau, the Our News team boarded a flight from LPIA to Nicholl’s Town, Andros on a gloomy overcast Saturday morning.

The skies were indicative of the mood of the country – still reeling rom this tragedy.

The airspace around the Nicholl’s Town Airport was restricted, as the full ground investigation gets underway.

As our flight descended into North Andros, our Jerome Sawyer couldn’t help but quietly acknowledge this same path was taken by the ill-fated flight.

As this point, we are still less than 24 hours since the crash, and it is the moment where you have to balance duty and emotions.

Once on the ground, the mood is somber. What should be a time for celebration with the North Andros Regatta happening this weekend, it is instead an island in mourning, as it is home to many of the families of the crash victims.

The journey to the crash site took us off the main road, and onto a dirt road, in an area known as the Pine Yard, which is known for farming.

Eventually, Our News team members walked further into the now still forest, and arrived at the site.

The smell of smoke lingers at the site itself, and embers are visibly glowing from the smoldering fire.

Many of the nearby trees were burnt, which is an indication of the intensity of this firey crash.

On scene, we met a team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority and crime scene investigators who were combing the wreckage.

A statement from the agency Saturday morning confirming they have started the investigation from as early as Friday.

The investigation is still in its preliminary stage as investigators gather and analyze the remains of the aircraft, flight operations, maintenance records, weather conditions, air traffic services and any other relevant evidence.

Yet, despite this, it is still too early to determine a cause or what may have led to the accident.

The statement goes on to ask the public to share with the authority any photos or videos from the crash, which could help in the investigation.

Also released Saturday was a statement from the owners of the aircraft, Flamingo Air, who offered their condolences to the victims families, and announcing they will meet with the families within the next few days, ensuring that counseling is available as needed.

The statement also acknowledges they are still trying to contact families, and have asked them to reach out to the airline as well.

That same statement also says, “We remain committed to cooperating with the regulatory and relevant agencies during the investigation of this tragic incident.”

Over the next few days, the work of these investigators, along with the relevant government agencies and the airline, will hopefully begin to provide some answers to the many questions surrounding this aviation tragedy.

This comes as the pathologists and the families begin the daunting task of positively identifying the remains of the victims.