A Cessna 402B aircraft ditched in the sea off the coast of Haiti on Wednesday, forcing the pilot and two passengers to swim to safety. The twin-engine turboprop, operated by ZED Airlines as flight 6502, was en route from Cap-Haïtien to Port-au-Prince when it executed an emergency water landing near Lafiteau shortly before midday.
Rescue and Immediate Response
Footage captured the occupants wading through shallow Caribbean waters to reach Ibo Beach, where emergency services attended them. All three are reported to be in a stable condition. A spokesperson for ZED Airlines expressed relief that there were “no human losses to regret.”
Aircraft Details and Investigation
The aircraft, registration HI-1056, was built in 1972. Aviation authorities and the airline's technical team have launched a full inquiry. No initial details on possible mechanical failure have been released. The condition of the plane is still being assessed.
ZED Airlines stated that passenger safety is its absolute priority and promised further updates. The incident ended without tragedy, attributed to the pilot's expert handling and swift response on the ground.
