Diane Parker-Diaz and her three-year-old niece Diante Parker both died following the ditching of an Air Sunshine Cessna 402 during a regularly scheduled flight from Fort Lauderdale to Treasure Cay. Mrs Parker-Diaz is the daughter of popular Treasure Cay businessman Oswald (Ossie) Parker.
The twin engine 9-seater aircraft took off from Fort Lauderdale at 2.35 pm on 13th July. On board were pilot Hassan Moslimi, five adults, three children (all grandchildren of Oswald Parker) and an infant. Half an hour into the flight the starboard engine started to leak oil and make a popping sound. Pilot Hassan Moslimi shut down the engine and sent out a mayday signal at about 3.07 pm which was relayed to the airport in Freeport. Moslimi put the aircraft down into the sea six miles from Treasure Cay International Airport in the vicinity of Basin Harbour. The passengers exited through the pilot's window and the main door. Wearing their life jackets, they grouped together in the water.
Two US Coast Guard helicopters arrived at the location and dropped inflatable rafts to the victims. Eight survivors, including Diante Parker, were hoisted abord the helicopters. Mrs Diane Parker-Diaz' body was retrieved from the water and taken by boat to Marsh Harbour. Diante Parker was pronounced dead on arrival at Rand Memorial Hospital, Freeport. All the other passengers suffered no more than bruises and were soon released. Pilot Moslimi received head lacerations and was detained for observation
Oswald Parker is a Royal Bahamas Police Force reserve officer and when the mayday was received he was part of a team setting up a command post and rescue operation. When he saw the passenger list he realised four of his family members were on board. "It was the longest waiting period of my life," he told The Tribune, Nassau's leading daily newspaper. His other two grandchildren, Andre Parker-Diaz, 6, and Elisa Parker-Diaz, 5, were among the survivors. It is believed that Mrs Diaz was travelling with the children to assist with her brother's wedding on 2nd August. Her husband, Elio Diaz, had been visiting his ailing mother in Miami. He flew to Freeport on Monday morning.
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