Above: VC Bird International Airport

By the Caribbean Journal staff

A Fly Montserrat flight crashed shortly after taking off Sunday from Antigua’s VC Bird International Airport, leaving three dead.

The pilot, Jason Forbes, was pronounced dead on the scene. A 50-year-old Guyanese woman and Annya Duncan, a Jamaican teacher at the Montserrat Secondary School, also died in the crash.

The lone survivor was a British national, who suffered lacerations, bruises and a broken ankle.

“I was extremely saddened to hear about the tragic incident at Antigua airport on 7 October involving a Fly Montserrat aircraft,” Governor Adrian Davis said in a statement. “This is a very sad day for our community, the effects of which will be felt by many on island and in the region.”

The British national is currently in stable condition at Antigua’s St John’s Hospital.

“The government and people of Montserrat are deeply saddened by the incident yesterday,” Montserrat Deputy Premier Charles Kirnon said. “The government will be looking at offering grief counseling to the relatives of the victims of the plane crash. This incident has touched us all.”

Antiguan authorities are currently leading an investigation into the cause of the crash, along with the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority.

Fly Montserrat resumed its regular service on Monday between Antigua, Montserrat and Nevis.

Montserrat’s government said it would be increasing ferry service to daily operations in order to accommodate passengers concerned about traveling by air.