ST. CROIX — The victims of a plane accident that occurred near Estate Yellow Cedar but within the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on Sunday, are in more seriously condition previously thought, multiple sources with knowledge of the matter have confirmed to The Consortium.
One source with intimately knowledge of the situation revealed that the student victim, a 19-year-old named Regine Rose Acosta, was damaged so badly that she had to be airlifted to the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Florida Sunday.
Ms. Acosta was featured in a story on The Consortium on June 2, 2015; back then a Central High School senior, detailing her first solo flight as a pilot, which was deemed successful.
Regine Rose Acosta
Ms. Acosta, who plans on pursuing a career as a commercial pilot, developed a love for flying in 9th grade after joining the Virgin Islands Youth Aviation Club, where she has been a member for five years.
On February 28, 2015, she began training for her private pilot’s license. Back then, Ms. Acosta had completed 26 of the 40 hours required for the licensure.
The instructor who was also badly injured during the accident with a broken leg and other injuries, is a firefighter stationed at the airport. His identity was not revealed, but he too was airlifted out of the territory for further care, these sources say.
Though the victims’ conditions are stable, they sustained serious injuries. Ms. Acosta underwent facial surgery today as her countenance was badly damaged. She also suffered internal injuries. And the instructor, whose ankle was also badly damaged, was receiving emergency care as well.
In a statement issued to The Consortium Monday afternoon, Bohlke International Airways, owner of the Diamond DA20 aircraft that crashed, said the Federal Aviation Administration would conduct a full investigation into the accident, but that the company’s focus was on the recovery of the victims.
“We are thankful to the emergency medical personnel for their immediate response to this accident,” said Bohlke International Airways President, William Bohlke. “It will take some time to learn exactly what happened, but we are currently focused on the complete recovery of the two people involved.”
The incident occurred at about 11:51 a.m. on Sunday, officials from the Police Department and 911 said. Police officers could be seen filing in and out of Bohlke Airways, located just west of the airport, following the crash.
An image made available to The Consortium shows the wreckage of the aircraft, which appears to be broken in two pieces near the center.
Tags: bolhke plane crash, regine rose acosta, st croix usvi, us virgin islands
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