ROSEAU, Dominica, Jan 27, CMC -The search is continuing Monday for a four-seater Cessna 172 aircraft that left the Douglas Charles Airport on Sunday afternoon en route to the neighbouring French island of Martinique.
A statement by the Prefecture of Martinique said that “as soon as the search was launched, France deployed a helicopter and stood ready to respond to any additional requests from the Dominican authorities.”
It said that search and rescue operations continue on Monday and a local news website, EmoNews published what it described as “unconfirmed reports indicating “ what appears to be a sighting of the small plane”.
There has been no official confirmation from the French or Dominican authorities.
Earlier the Dominica Air and Sea Ports Authority (DASPA) in a brief statement said the four-seater Cessna 172 aircraft had lost communications after its departure at around 3.46 pm (local time) “and all relevant local and French emergency response teams are currently working to locate it.
“Rescue efforts are in progress and we confirm that the safety of the passenger and crew is paramount at this time. Further updates on the situation will be provided once they become available,” DASPA said in the statement.
It gave no details as to how many people were on board the aircraft, which is described as a single-engine, fixed-wing aircraft and is the most-produced airplane in history as well as being a popular choice for flight training.
DASPA did not give the nationality of the pilot.
But eyewitnesses said that the plane is believed to have crashed between Riviere Cyrique and La Plaine on the island’s southeast coast..
One resident told reporters that she heard when the plane passed over her house saying “that plane has an engine problem and it fell down between Riviere Cyrique and La Plaine. circle around there they might get the plane there”.
CMC/hg/ir/2025