10 Rescued After Small Plane Crashes in Bahamian Waters Off Florida

A small plane crashed Tuesday in Bahamian waters about 80 miles off the coast of Florida and all 10 people aboard were rescued, officials in the Bahamas said. The pilot had declared an emergency and then communication with the aircraft was lost, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority in the Bahamas said in a media post.

The plane was identified as a Beechcraft 300 King Air turboprop. The U.S. Coast Guard and multiple Bahamian agencies took part in the search and rescue operation. The U.S. Coast Guard launched a C-27 aircraft to search for the downed plane. The 10 rescued individuals were brought in for medical evaluations, the Coast Guard said.

The cause of the crash remains unknown.

Search efforts began after the emergency declaration and loss of contact. Coordination between U.S. and Bahamian responders led to the location and recovery of all passengers and crew from the water. No injuries were reported in the initial accounts of the rescue.