Pilot dead, Guyanese GDF officer critically injured in Turks and Caicos plane crash

A pilot is dead and a Guyanese national attached to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is in critical condition following the crash of a small Cessna aircraft near the Howard Hamilton International Airport, Turks and Caicos, on Tuesday afternoon.

The injured pilot has been identified as Captain Dwight Bonus, who the GDF confirmed was not on official duty at the time of the incident but was on personal vacation leave. In a statement, the GDF said it has been made aware of the accident and is “in contact with the relevant authorities and continues to monitor the situation closely.”

Captain Bonus was one of two pilots aboard the single-engine Cessna, which had departed from Florida and was approaching the Turks and Caicos when the crash occurred. The identity of the deceased pilot has not yet been released.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) confirmed that the accident happened during the aircraft’s approach to Howard Hamilton International Airport (PLS). Emergency services—including airside fire and rescue, medical response teams, and law enforcement—were immediately dispatched and responded swiftly to the scene.

As part of the coordinated response, the Airports Authority also deployed a support boat to assist in rescue efforts.

“Both occupants of the aircraft were promptly attended to by emergency medical personnel, but one of them was confirmed dead,” the TCIAA said in its statement.

The airport was temporarily closed at 3:14 p.m. to facilitate emergency operations but reopened within two hours.

The National Security Council of the Turks and Caicos Islands is working with the Civil Aviation Authority and other investigative bodies to determine the cause of the crash. A full investigation is currently underway.