Four persons are lucky to be alive – they survived a plane crash at around 9:17am Saturday morning, just outside the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex.

A single engine Cessna aircraft registration number 8B-MJR crashed into a small river at the front of the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex after the pilot reportedly lost control while making his second attempt to land. The plane was coming from Barbados.

Reports indicate that the airplane was picked up by the wind, then clipped newly constructed fencing at the Arnos Vale Complex and crashed into the river.

The four occupants, who were taken to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital for examinations, were X-rayed then released shortly afterwards. They were accompanied by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Godfred Pompey.

Reliable sources told SEARCHLIGHT that the occupants had telephone conversations with Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves at around 10:30am and arrangements were being made to fly them out of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“They walked out of the plane,” said one eye witness who said that the occupants only needed help to get the doors open but seemed okay.

A large contingent of police and fire officers were swiftly on the scene to investigate the crash. Trinidad and Tobago soldiers, part of the Caricom security forces were also in attendance.

The plane was reported piloted by Anil Ramlochan. The identity of one of the passengers has been given as Andrew Lythcott. The identity of the other two passengers, reportedly females, are still to be verified.

The aviation authorities are conducting investigations.