A small passenger aircraft crashed in the Bahamas on Thursday, killing all ten people on board — nine passengers and a pilot — on what was meant to be a day of national celebration. The Cessna 402, operated by Bahamas-based carrier Flamingo Air, had taken off from Lynden Pindling International Airport near Nassau, the island nation's capital, and was making a short domestic flight to San Andros Airport on the northern part of Andros island when it "reportedly encountered difficulties" and came down into bushes before reaching the runway. One person initially survived the crash but died later from their injuries, bringing the total death toll to ten. The names and ages of those on board have not been released.

The crash occurred on 10 July, the Bahamas' Independence Day — this year marking the 53rd anniversary of the archipelago's independence. "Today is a day of celebration but it has become a day of mourning," Prime Minister Philip Davis said at a press conference. "Once again, a chapter in our nation's story has been marked by tragedy."

The incident was not the only aviation scare involving Flamingo Air that day. Earlier on Thursday, a separate aircraft operated by the same airline had turned back to Nassau after the pilot reported a technical problem en route to the island of Mayaguana. A fire broke out on board after passengers had disembarked. The Ministry of Aviation said there had been "two safety incidents" within the same day involving the carrier.

In response, authorities temporarily suspended Flamingo Air's air operator certificate as a precautionary measure, while stressing that the move "should not be treated as an adverse compliance action" against the airline. Flamingo Air said it was gathering details and committed to cooperating fully with investigators. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority has launched a formal inquiry.

The crash underscores the particular challenges of aviation safety in island nations like the Bahamas, where short inter-island flights on small aircraft are a routine and essential form of transport across a sprawling archipelago of more than 700 islands and cays. The cause of Thursday's fatal crash remains under investigation.