Tragedy strikes on journey to farewell: Two die when Andros plane ditched in waters

In a heartbreaking turn of events, one of the two victims who died when a plane ditched in waters on Thursday, was en route to her mother’s funeral in Lowe Sound, Andros.

Emma McQueen with Allen Russell, believed to be in his 80s, a beloved local taxi driver, was among the six individuals aboard the ill-fated Piper Aztec.

The aircraft, bound for Lynden Pindling International Airport, encountered difficulties leading to an emergency water, landing eight miles west of New Providence.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force, Royal Bahamas Defence Force, and the US Coast Guard rescued the four survivors, who were hospitalized. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority is currently investigating the origins of the flight, which remains unconfirmed.

Donna Sweeting, McQueen’s sister, learned of the tragedy when her daughter could not contact the victim but had heard about a plane crash.

They both shared in the grief, having lost their mother Roselda Knowles died in August. Sweeting had not seen McQueen since the death of their mother.

Speaking to the Tribune of their mother’s death, Sweeting said, “It was a bit rough, because even with my mom, that wasn’t expected. We just planned her funeral. I told my sister ‘I’ll send our photo mummy tomorrow’, because she was going home so she wouldn’t have seen her.”

“She didn’t want to. She wanted to remember how she saw her last,” Sweeting said.

The sisters had plans to unite in Andros.

“We just were going to fix up the place, and she got a banner from the place she used to work. One of the guys did a banner for her for mom.”

The four surviving victims remain hospitalized.