27/01/2025

Wreckage of Missing Plane Found in Dominica: No Apparent Signs of Life

By Josiah G.A Bicette/SNN

The Prefecture of Martinique has confirmed the discovery of the wreckage of a Cessna 172 aircraft that went missing on Sunday, January 26, 2025. The wreckage was located by the Dragon 972 helicopter after an extensive search in steep terrain inland west of the Atlantic coast town of La Plaine, Dominica.

The Flight and Missing Aircraft

The small 4-seater aircraft, registered F-00RV, took off from Dominica’s Douglas Charles Airport at approximately 3:46 p.m. on Sunday en route to Fort-de-France, Martinique. The plane had originally departed Martinique on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 6:58 a.m., landing in Dominica after a brief 35-minute flight at 7:33 a.m.

The excursion was part of a planned outing involving a flotilla of seven aircraft—two from Guadeloupe and five from Martinique. On Sunday, six of the planes returned safely to their destinations. However, the Cessna carrying two pilots and two passengers lost contact with Dominica’s control tower shortly after takeoff.

Search Efforts and Discovery

Following the aircraft's disappearance, the Dominica Coast Guard was dispatched to the suspected area. However, bad weather, including strong winds and torrential rain, forced the suspension of the search at 10 p.m. Sunday night. A local resident in the area reported hearing the sound of the plane flying overhead shortly before it went missing.

On the morning of Monday, January 27, 2025, search teams from Dominica, supported by French crews, resumed efforts in the rugged terrain. The Dragon 972 helicopter eventually located the wreckage in a remote and steep area, with no apparent signs of life observed at the crash site.

Next Steps

On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, land teams from Dominica and Martinique will travel to the crash site to conduct a thorough investigation. The prefecture has noted that the challenging terrain may complicate recovery efforts.

Further details regarding the cause of the crash and the fate of those on board are awaited as authorities continue their investigation.

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