Ten people were killed, including a popular band, when a plane crashed in the Bahamas on Friday, July 10, 2026. Provided by aviation source

A small plane crashed in the Bahamas on Friday, killing all 10 people on board and prompting the government to temporarily ground Flamingo Air flights.

The plane was engulfed in flames when police arrived on the scene. Nine men and one woman were killed in the crash, according to the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

The Bahamian Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority said in a statement the plane had departed Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau and was headed to San Andros when it crashed in a wooded area in North Andros.

While officials have not released a list of names, the manifest shows some members of Da Pond Band — a well-known Bahamian musical group — were set to be on board, according to an aviation source. DJ Fresh, a popular island DJ, was also believed to be on board, according to the source.

Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis had initially said that one person survived, but he later confirmed in a news conference that the person died from their injuries.

"We gather beneath a cloud of great sorrow," he said, noting people were celebrating the Bahamas' 53rd independence anniversary. "It has become a day of mourning. ... To every family that has received the devastating news, that someone they love will not be coming home, we offer our deepest condolences."

The plane was identified as a Cessna 402 aircraft registered in the Bahamas.

The Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Aviation said in a statement that the suspension of Flamingo Air's air operator certificate is only a precautionary safety measure as officials investigate the cause of the crash. The ministry said the suspension is a result of two safety incidents that happened Friday.

During the news conference, Energy, Utilities and Aviation Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis said the first incident occurred earlier Friday involving a Flamingo Air plane. She said it was en route to Mayaguana when the pilot reported a concern and turned back to Nassau. After the plane landed and the passengers deboarded, the plane caught fire, she said. That incident is also under investigation.

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