After departing from Palm Beach private airport in Fla., a plane with four missionaries from Flying Nuns onboard crashed near Biscayne Bay. Although the exact cause of the incident is unknown, the Federal Aviation Administration’s main version is that water in the gasoline tank caused the crash. The investigation revealed that the deceased pilot had sufficient experience and the region’s knowledge to complete the flight. The plane was also in good condition after a successful reparation, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
While there is much speculation about the crash in Biscayne Bay and its causes, there is little evidence on which theories can be based. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the incident cannot be attributed to the technical condition of the plane that Flying Nuns used. The aircraft underwent significant successful reparations shortly before the incident. Regarding the pilot, Alfred Car, he had all the needed ingredients to complete the flight – long experience in aircraft control and extensive knowledge of the region. Currently, the primary assumption is that water in the gasoline tank provoked the crash. The situation is still under investigation.
After the destruction that Hurricane Dorian brought to the Bahamas Islands, Flying Nuns was established to help its underserved places. The organization functions in affiliation with Island Church in Grand Bahamas, by which it is also partially funded. Their last, as well as the other mission trips, were sponsored by Air on Time, a commercial air transport services company.
The disaster has two casualties: Alfred Car, the pilot, and recently identified Jack Wilson, one of the missionaries. They were found dead shortly after the incident. Coast Guards divers pulled Car and Wilson out from the sunken plane half an hour after their arrival on the scene. The pilot worked for Air on Time and had his license for six years. Another two of the victims were initially pulled out of the water by fishermen from Miami, who were first to arrive at the place. The men regularly visited Biscayne Bay to fish there.
Sister Jan and Sister Jane are among the disaster survivals. Although the nuns come from different backgrounds, they both have had previous experience working with refugees. Sister Jane worked with Mexican immigrants as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, and Sister Jan has a long history working with Cuban refugees and lived on the island until the 1980s. Moreover, Sister Jane is an experienced licensed pilot ready for long flights. The third missionary, the deceased Jack Wilson, participated in the organization as a part of his rehabilitation program after being sentenced for minor drug abuse. According to the organization, Wilson was a dedicated person wanting to turn his life around and its asset. Recently, a GoFundMe page was created to support Flying Nuns and collected 200,00 US dollars, where half of it comes from a single anonymous donation. The Biscayne Bay plane crash is open to further investigation.