What happened
During the early stages of departure from Saint-Domingue-Las Américas Airport, an aircraft transporting 6.4 tons of fruit encountered a critical mechanical issue. While performing the initial climb phase, the left engine failed, compromising the flight's ability to maintain altitude or continue toward its destination in Christiansted, US Virgin Islands.
In response to the loss of power, the crew executed an emergency procedure to ditch the aircraft in the Bay of Boca Chica, situated approximately 5 km east of the airport. The vessel settled in the water a few hundred meters from the shoreline. All four crew members on board were successfully recovered without injury.
Findings
The investigation determined that the primary factor leading to the emergency was the failure of the left engine shortly after the aircraft departed the runway.