Minister of Immigration, Border Services, and Aviation, Hon. Arlington Musgrove, has expressed his gratitude to various government agencies and the local boating community for their crucial roles in the search and rescue operation following the crash of a small twin-engine plane off the coast of Providenciales.
At approximately 12:02 pm, the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) received a distress call indicating that a small aircraft with two people on board was experiencing engine failure several miles from Providenciales. Shortly after, the plane was reported to have gone down about 10 miles west of Howard Hamilton International Airport.
Upon receiving this information, the Governor activated the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) under the Department of Disaster Management and Emergency (DDME) to coordinate the rescue efforts.
The search and rescue mission was spearheaded by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) 911 Gold Command, with critical support from other agencies. The U.S. Coast Guard provided air surveillance, while the local boating community and the Marine Branch of the RTCIPF conducted on-water search operations.
After several hours of searching, the U.S. Coast Guard successfully located and rescued the two survivors, transporting them to Atlantic Aviation. Upon arrival, they were met by medical emergency services and other agencies for health and welfare screening.
Minister Musgrove commended the teamwork and swift response, stating, “I am grateful for the teamwork displayed, and I want to thank the following agencies for their participation in ensuring a successful outcome: Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, 911 Gold Command, DDME, TCIAA, TCI Civil Aviation, Customs and Border Protection (Border Force), United States Coast Guard, TCI Red Cross, and Cheshire Hall Emergency Services.
“I wish to especially thank the members of the boating community who responded swiftly and selflessly to the search for the occupants of the aircraft. Your service is commendable and demonstrative of the rich community spirit that exists in the Turks and Caicos Islands.”
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