Ten Americans escaped without injury after a seaplane crashed into a dock and partially overturned near a popular resort destination in the Bahamas.
The frightening incident happened shortly after 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 1, in North Bimini, according to the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
When officers arrived, they discovered a 2014 Cessna 208B Grand Caravan seaplane partially overturned beside a dock. The aircraft, operated by Tropic Ocean Airways, had been carrying eight passengers and two crew members.
All 10 people aboard were U.S. citizens.
Fortunately, nearby boaters rushed into action before police reached the scene and managed to evacuate everyone from the damaged aircraft. Authorities said no injuries were reported.
Video footage captured the dramatic aftermath as passengers were helped out of the seaplane and brought to safety.
Preliminary information suggests the pilot had been preparing for takeoff when heavy boat traffic forced the aircraft to change direction in search of a safer departure route.
While taxiing across the water, the seaplane reportedly veered to the left and failed to respond to the pilot’s attempts to correct its course. It then struck the dock and sank in water estimated to be about 100 feet deep.
Tropic Ocean Airways described the incident as a “mishap while taxiing before departure” and said the company was fully cooperating with authorities investigating the crash.
Nick Pavlakis, the general manager of MarineMax in Jupiter, Florida, was among the people who rushed to help.
Pavlakis said he had just returned from getting fuel when he heard panicked shouting and noticed people waving for assistance.
“Right as I tied up from getting fuel, we heard some panicking people waving, and then we saw the seaplane drifting,” Pavlakis told WPBF.
He initially believed the aircraft had simply lost power, but quickly gathered several nearby people and headed toward the plane.
Pavlakis estimated that it took approximately five to 10 minutes to get everyone safely aboard the rescue boat. The entire operation, including recovering the passengers’ luggage, lasted roughly 20 to 30 minutes.
Passenger Jeanne O’Brien said those aboard could see the dock getting dangerously close moments before the impact.
“We were headed out into the ocean to take off, but we were right next to the fairly large marina,” O’Brien told WSVN.
She said another passenger suddenly asked, “Where are you going?” as the seaplane continued drifting toward the dock.
“And then it just was ‘boom,’ and it hit,” she recalled.
Despite the violent collision and the aircraft sinking into deep water, everyone aboard managed to escape safely.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force said the investigation into the crash remains ongoing.
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