The plane crash occurred Tuesday in Bahamian waters east of Florida, with authorities reporting a swift rescue of everyone aboard. The U.S. Coast Guard and multiple Bahamian agencies were involved in the response, after the pilot declared an emergency and contact was subsequently lost, the Bahamas Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority said.
According to the Bahamas authority, the aircraft’s distress began when the pilot declared an emergency and then communication was lost. U.S. and Bahamian agencies then coordinated a search and rescue operation as the downed aircraft was located off the Florida coast.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said the crash happened at about 12:05 p.m., roughly 50 miles (80 kilometers) east of Vero Beach Regional Airport. The FAA also said it will investigate the crash, while authorities said the cause remains unknown.
Officials said the aircraft departed Marsh Harbour Airport in the Bahamas and was headed to Grand Bahama International Airport in Freeport, also in the Bahamas. The Bahamas authority described the crash as occurring in Bahamian waters.
In the search and rescue effort, the U.S. Coast Guard said it launched a C-27 aircraft to look for the downed Beechcraft 300 King Air turboprop plane. The Coast Guard said the 10 rescued passengers were brought in for medical evaluations.
Authorities did not provide details about the injuries or the circumstances leading up to the emergency declaration. The FAA said the cause of the crash is under investigation.