December 20, 2005

On 19 December 2005 at about 2:30 p.m. a Chalk’s Ocean Airways twin engine Grumman G-73T Turbine Mallard broke apart after an explosion, minutes after take off from Watson Island in Miami.

The crash happened at Government Cut, after passengers boarded the flight at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and stopped off at Watson Island while en route to Bimini.

All 18 passengers, including three infants and two crew members, are believed to have perished in the biggest airline disaster to effect The Bahamas. So far, 19 bodies have been found.

11 people from Bimini were reported to have been killed in the plane disaster just off Miami Beach.