Officials released a report that a Leonardo AW139 crash happened early on July 4. An American billionaire and six others perished in the private plane crash. The deceased included the operator of a West Palm Beach helicopter school.

About Private Plane Accidents

Many think flying is safer than driving. For commercial planes, this can be the case. However, this isn’t the case for general aviation or private planes. Last year, almost 500 people died in private plane accidents. This could be due to pilot error, fuel shortage or bad landings. Bad landings are the most common cause of non-fatal private plane accidents. Fatality risk rises with worse the weather. If a pilot is using his instruments since he can’t see, the risk actually is greater.

Private Plane Crash in the Bahamas

Officials report black hole conditions happened shortly after takeoff from the billionaire’s private island of Big Grand Cay on the way back to Florida. However, it took 14 hours for rescuers to find the plane, which was two miles from shore. The plane’s retractable landing gear remained extended. Photos of the wreckage show tail boom separation, the cabin section laying inverted on the seabed, and significant impact damage to the remaining fuselage.
The pilot had approximately 13,000 hours of flight time and operated planes out of the West Palm Beach airport. The pilot even held an airline transport pilot rating for helicopters. The second pilot was an employee of the billionaire. Both pilots were type-rated in the AW139 and held instrument ratings. The Bahamas Air Accident Investigation Division, FAA, Department of Civil Aviation, the Royal Bahamas Police, and the Defense Force are still investigating.

Seek Justice

A catastrophic plane crash or accident causes mental and physical suffering. Many describe panic, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and survivor’s guilt. These feelings can change a person for the rest of his or her life. This is why it is important to seek the counsel of a knowledgeable complex litigation attorney. We will fight to recover damages owed after this devastating accident. Our consultations are free. Contact us today.