The aviation community in the Caribbean is on high alert following the disappearance of a Cessna 172 aircraft that reportedly crashed in southeastern Dominica. The aircraft, described by its owner as being in excellent condition and well-equipped, lost communication shortly after departing Douglas-Charles Airport at 3:46 PM on Sunday, January 26, 2025. The plane was en route to Martinique.
Search and rescue efforts began immediately, with unconfirmed reports by Monday afternoon suggesting the aircraft may have been spotted on the side of a mountain. The four individuals onboard, all Martinican nationals, included two young pilots, one of whom was 20 years old and described as experienced despite his age. The other passengers reportedly included the pilot’s cousin and a friend.
The aircraft owner, speaking anonymously to French media outlet RCI, speculated that severe weather conditions might have contributed to the incident. Dominica experienced heavy rains and strong winds over the weekend, while Martinique was under a Yellow Vigilance advisory for heavy rain and thunderstorms.
In response to Dominica’s formal request for assistance, the French prefecture of Martinique deployed resources, including the Griffon 972 helicopter, to aid in the search efforts. Since Sunday, the helicopter has been conducting aerial sweeps of the suspected crash site.
Dominica has a history of tragic aviation accidents. In 1998, the island experienced its worst air disaster when Cardinal Airline Flight 947 crashed near the then-Melville Hall Airport, claiming 11 lives. More recently, in 2019 and 2020, two separate crashes near Douglas-Charles Airport resulted in fatalities.
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