On Monday, May 15, a small MU-2B plane took off from Puerto Rico bound for central Florida in what would normally be a routine flight.
Four people were aboard the small aircraft — the 52-year-old pilot, his 40-year-old girlfriend and her two young sons, ages 3 and 4. Their plane failed to arrive at its destination, having disappeared from the radar screen about three hours after take-off.
According to Miami Air Traffic Control, ATC personnel lost radio and radar contact with the pilot and plane over the open ocean in the area known as the “Bermuda Triangle.”
An extensive search and rescue operation was launched immediately, and the Coast Guard initially reported that they recovered some debris from the aircraft. However, they were unable to locate any of the passengers or the pilot.
For nearly 70 years, the triangular section of the Atlantic Ocean between Florida, Puerto Rico and Bermuda has been the site of a number of mysterious disappearances and accidents involving both airplanes and boats. For reasons unrelated to bad weather or mechanical issues, these vessels suddenly develop serious problems that result in unforeseen tragedies occurring.
In a statement to The Associated Press, a Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. and spokesperson seemed to acknowledge that type of event in Monday’s saying, “There’s no indication of significant adverse weather at the time.”
On Wednesday, the Coast Guard tweeted an image of a debris field of aircraft components that were recovered approximately 15 miles east of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. The search for survivors continues.
In general, flying in an airplane is safer than riding in a car. But when a pilot error, mechanical failure or other mishap occurs during a flight, there are likely to be many more fatalities and catastrophic injuries.
If you suffered injuries — or lost a loved one — in a plane crash, you may be able to pursue civil justice through the Florida courts.
Source: Boingboing, “Plane disappeared and crashed in Bermuda Triangle, family still missing,” David Pescovitz, May 18, 2017