Five members of the beloved Caribbean band Da Pond Band were killed in a plane crash in the Bahamas, leaving singer Shaniese Miller in shock.
Crash Details
On Friday, a small plane operated by Flamingo Air crashed in North Andros, killing all 10 people on board. The flight, which typically takes under 20 minutes, had left Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau and was en route to San Andros, according to the Bahamian Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority.
The band had been scheduled to perform at an Independence Day celebration on Andros Island alongside a DJ.
Singer's Reaction
Speaking to CBS News on Tuesday, Miller said: "I'm still shocked that they're gone. I can't believe it. They're my family and I never expected that to happen." She had last been with the band the previous week at a performance in Nassau, where they were excited about the Andros trip.
The band confirmed the deceased members: Giovanni McKenzie, Mateo Winder, Rashad Storr, Tonique Gilot, and Travis Johnson. Also on board was Melvin Henfield, known as DJ Fresh.
Survivor's Account
Another vocalist, Shenia Roberts, had arrived on Andros earlier that day on the same plane with the same pilot. "You could tell it was an old plane. But we didn't have any issues," she said, adding: "They were the people that I talked to in the morning, in the night. They were my friends, my confidants. And I was waiting on them."
Roberts told local outlet Our News: "It's been crazy. They were my people. They were the people that I saw every day of every week. I communicated with them every day. My whole life was my band and my music."
Official Tributes
Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis paid tribute on X, writing he was "praying for the families who are now facing unbearable grief" and urged "compassion, privacy, and support as the investigation proceeds."
The Bahamas Musicians and Entertainers Union stated: "Among the dearly departed are some of the talented and vibrant members of our entertainment community, including members of The Pond Band and a DJ. (Their) passion, dedication, and artistry touched so many lives and helped to enrich the cultural fabric of The Bahamas."
Investigation and Aftermath
Three other passengers who were not performers were also on the flight, but their names have not been publicly released. Bahamian investigators are probing the cause of the crash, CBS reported. Flamingo Air suspended all flights after two emergency incidents on the same day, including a separate plane that caught fire after landing in Nassau.
