Twin engine aircraft ditches in sea/ all three victims rescued

On Monday, January 27th 2014 at approximately 04.55 p.m. the Central Police Dispatch received confirmation from the tower at the Princes Juliana International Airport, that a twin engine propeller aircraft had ditched into the sea approximately 2 miles North- East of Sint Maarten. The Aztec aircraft with a pilot and two passengers were on route from Sint Barths to Grand Case Airport. The aircraft had possibly encountered engine problems causing the pilot to ditch at sea. Immediately after receiving this information police patrols were sent to the Guana Bay and Dawn Beach area to try to locate where the plane had gone down. Other emergency services such as the Sint Maarten Sea Rescue, Coast Guard and French emergency services including a helicopter were sent out to search for the victims. With the assistance of a witness the police was able to communicate with emergency services and direct them to where the aircraft had gone down. At 06.10 p.m. all three victims had been rescued from the rough seas by the Voyager and handed over to the Sint Maarten Sea Rescue. The pilot and his two passengers suffered minor cuts and bruises and were transported by ambulance to the Sint Maarten Medical Center for medical treatment. Due to good coordination and input from all emergency services and the Voyager all three victims were rescued before nightfall. An investigation into the crash of the incident will follow.