Four Survive Plane Crash in TCI Waters; Islanders to the rescue

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, January 3, 2023 – All four people aboard the plane that went down in TCI waters on its way from St Kitts and Nevis on Tuesday  have been rescued thanks to local fisherman Kellison Talbot who police are hailing as a hero.

A multi-agency search and rescue was activated around midday when the private aircraft crashed in waters between Salt Cay and Grand Turk.

TCI authorities reported the crash early Tuesday afternoon. The Turks and Caicos Airports Authority said the plane experienced difficulty around 11:20 am and went down. Twenty minutes later  a report was made to the police alerting them of the accident. The plane apparently went down about 17 miles east of the airport and the TCIAA confirmed that Provo was the aircraft’s destination.

Air Support from the US along with Officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, with officials from the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies, the Fire Department, and Emergency Services were on site assisting the effort to find the travelers.

Word is still scarce on the ground in St Kitts and Nevis according to media houses who spoke to Magnetic Media. One journalist said as the country was observing a national holiday, news in St Kitts would be hard to come by before Wednesday.

By 3:39 PM the four survivors were heading to shore according to community activist and boater Ed Forbes who assisted in the search effort.

As no DECR or Police Boat was on site it was local fishermen and private boaters who led the charge with their vessels collaborating with officers we are told.

About Talbot Police said “He displayed courage and selflessness by placing his life on the line.”