Woman held her baby over head after Bahamas plane crash

A WOMAN held her baby above her head for an hour, three people shared one lifejacket and two children held on to their dead mother’s body to stay alive after their plane crashed in the Bahamas.

The eight survivors of the crash that killed two people in the Bahamas were pushed to extraordinary limits to stay alive before help arrived.

“They looked exhausted, at their limits, especially the group with the baby,” said Lt Cmdr Mike Eagle, who was piloting the first of three rescue aircraft to arrive on the scene.

Lt Cmdr Eagle spoke of Bethany Duval Francisco, 26, of Orlando, her husband, Constantinos Charles Francisco, 26, their one-year-old daughter Zoie and the pilot of the Air Sunshine craft.

“The woman was holding the baby above her head, and her husband and the pilot were supporting her, with one lifejacket between them,” added Lt Mike Jackson, adding that the pilot Hassan Moslemi “really took control and kept everybody together”.

Other passengers included Walt Wilkins, 29, and Donyelle Wilkins, 27, of Greenville, South Carolina, who were on their way to an island honeymoon. The crash occurred on Sunday, but the amazing survival stories only emerged yesterday.

Diane Parker Diaz, 33, of Jacksonville, was taking her son Andre, six, daughter Elisa, five, and her niece, Dante Parker, three, to her brother’s wedding. Both Ms Diaz and Dante died.

The National Transportation Safety Board has begun an investigation. Mr Moslemi sent a mayday call before going down, said Bahamas Police Superintendent Basil Rahming.