airaccident

Friends and relatives of 87-year-old Allen Russell who died when the plane in which he was a passenger, ditched in waters between Andros and New Providence, remembered him as gentle and kindhearted.

“He was an uncle to the whole community of North Andros, especially Lowe Sound,” Chansa Russell said.

Allen was a taxi driver on the island stationed at the local airport .

“I frequent North Andros and he is always telling jokes and always in good spirit,” Georgiemae Bethel remembered. “He was such a nice elderly man, always a gentleman, always smiling. I will miss seeing him when I go back to Andros.”

Russel and Emma McQueen died onboard the Piper Aztec which was bound for Lynden Pindling International Airport, when the pilot encountered difficulties, leading to an emergency water landing, eight miles west of New Providence.

Russell’s nephew Able Seaman Frederick Russell said his uncle was “a gentle giant”, respectable resident of the community, nonsense and a disciplinarian.

“He was very kind, outspoken and he basically was loved by everyone.

He said his uncle often came to New Providence for banking purposes.

Abria Griffin said, “Uncle Allen was one of the first faces you see when you land in North Andros to welcome you.”

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.