A Divi Divi Air Britten-Norman BN2 A Islander, registration PJ-SUN performing flight 016 from Curacao to Bonaire (Netherlands Antilles) with 9 passengers and 1 pilot, ditched before the coast of Bonaire when the pilot realized he could not reach the airport anymore following the failure of the right hand engine (Lycoming IO-540). The airplane impacted the water with considerable force at around 11:15L (15:15Z) causing the pilot to strike the windscreen with his head and being knocked unconscious. The passengers were unable to open his seat belt, but all 9 passengers were able to leave the airplane and were taken aboard a boat that quickly arrived at the scene. The airplane sank, the pilot was killed.
The airline confirmed, that the pilot was still on board when the airplane sank. Emergency services are currently trying to recover his body. The passengers were taken to local hospitals.
There were rumours around, that the pilot may have gotten out of the airplane and was swimming to the coast. All emergency services and the airline said, those rumours were untrue.
According to first preliminary investigation results the pilot had declared emergency and reported an engine failure when he was about 5 minutes before estimated landing at Bonaire, but then needed to ditch the airplane.
Curacao and Bonaire airports are 41nm apart.
On Dec 18th 2009 the airplane was recovered and taken to Curacao. The body of the pilot was found still in his seat. An autopsy has been scheduled.
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