Incident Overview
An aircraft conducting an unauthorized flight from Santa Marta, Colombia, to Cat Island, Bahamas, was intercepted and shot down by the pilot of a Dominican Air Force A-37. The aircraft carried two pilots and a cargo of approximately 500 kilograms of cocaine. It had entered Dominican Republic airspace without authorization.
Sequence of Events
The flight originated in Santa Marta and was en route to Cat Island. Upon entering Dominican airspace illegally, the aircraft was engaged by a Dominican Air Force A-37. The A-37 pilot opened fire, causing the aircraft to crash into the sea off Cabo Rojo. Both occupants were killed in the crash.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause, as determined by the investigation, is that the aircraft was shot down by a Dominican Air Force A-37 during an illegal flight.