Eleven people were rescued after a Beechcraft King Air crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on May 12, 2026, during a flight between two airports in the Bahamas.
The aircraft departed Marsh Harbour Airport and was flying to Grand Bahama International Airport in Freeport when the pilot declared an emergency, according to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority in the Bahamas. Communication with the aircraft was then lost.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the aircraft, identified as a Beechcraft King Air 300, crashed at about 12:05 local time around 50 miles east of Vero Beach Regional Airport in Florida.
Early reports said 10 people were on board, but the US Coast Guard later updated the number to 11.
The US Coast Guard launched a C-27 aircraft as well as helicopters to search for the downed turboprop. All 11 people were rescued and taken for medical evaluation. Brevard County, Florida, officials said the survivors were flown to Melbourne Orlando International Airport before being transported to area hospitals.
The crash occurred in waters east of Florida, although the flight originated and was scheduled to end in the Bahamas. Bahamian authorities helped coordinate the response, while US crews carried out the rescue because of their proximity to the crash site.
The cause of the crash has not been determined. The FAA said it will investigate.
The King Air 300 is a twin-engine turboprop used for business aviation, charter, special-mission work and regional transportation. The aircraft family is known for its short-field performance and has long been used in island and remote-area operations.
No additional details about the aircraft’s operator, registration or the nature of the emergency were immediately available.
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