Possible Debris from Plane Crash Spotted by JDF Aircraft

A search and rescue team from the Jamaica Defence Force Air Wing has spotted and photographed what is believed to be debris from the TBM900 aircraft that crashed in Jamaican waters on September 5, 2014.

The debris field was spotted yesterday, in an area about 24 nautical miles north of Port Antonio. While it is not yet possible to confirm that the debris sighted is from the missing TBM 900, our pilots are very confident that the sighting is consistent with that of a high impact debris field, and this has since been corroborated by a United States Coast Guard C130 Aircraft involved in the operation.

The aircraft, which crashed at approximately 1:10 pm yesterday, had departed from Rochester, New York, heading south to Naples, Florida with two persons onboard. The aircraft was reported to be non-responsive to communication from United States Air Traffic Control and is suspected of running out of fuel and crashing somewhere over the Caribbean Sea.

The JDF is currently executing search operations to locate and recover the debris in order to positively identify it as part of the wreckage of the missing aircraft. The JDF Coast Guard is continuing the search and rescue operation throughout the night, and will be bolstered by the addition of JDF aerial assets at first light Saturday morning. There is also a United States Coast Guard Cutter en route to the scene, in order to assist in the operation.

The JDF Coast Guard is the maritime arm of the Jamaica Defence Force and has primary responsibility for search and rescue operations at sea.