On August 23, 1998, 18 years ago today, Dominica suffered its worst air disaster when Cardinal Airline Flight 947 from St. Maarten to Dominica disappeared and crashed around 5:33 pm on approach to the Melville Hall Airport.
On board were ten Dominicans and one pilot.
Events that led to the tragedy began unfolding when the Cessna 402, owned and operated by Air Anguilla, was given clearance by air traffic controllers to land. Around that same time it is reported that a LIAT pilot saw the airplane at about 800 feet above the approach, and some three miles south west of the Melville Hall runway.
Soon after, the LIAT pilot reported that he began receiving distress signals from the Cessna.
The airplane never arrived at its Mellville Hall Airport destination.
Word soon spread and a search party immediately began looking for the ill-fated aircraft but the search was called off due to bad weather. Dominica was being affected by an intense tropical wave that day.
The following day the weather lifted and a farmer in the Vauxhall area discovered parts of an aircraft and reported this to the police. It was confirmed that it was the missing aircraft.
Rescue workers and the curious rushed to the site and many wept openly as a survey revealed battered and bleeding bodies, some with near severed limbs, strewn around the aircraft. The site also revealed that the plane had lost a wing, an engine, and its fuselage, as it ripped through trees before coming to a halt.
The nation was in a state of shock as news emerged that ten bodies were recovered from the site. But a glimmer of hope appeared in all the gloom when it was announced that 10-year-old Kelly John from Newtown was found unconscious. He was rushed first to the Marigot Hospital then to the Princess Margaret Hospital for emergency medical attention.
But all hopes were dashed the following day at 3:00 pm when news broke that despite valiant efforts by doctors, Kelly had died.
Kelly, a student of St. Mary’s Primary, had traveled to St. Maarten to spend summer holidays with his mother, and was returning home for school.
In addition to Kelly, those on the plane that fateful day were serving police officer, Glenville Lewis, Josephine and Nyanna Francois, Jonathan Lake, Latoya James, Valda Simon, Marcus “Alleyne” Webster, Ann-Marie Guye, Marlon Royer and Captain Ilouba “Chris” Adingupu from Nigeria.
This still brings tears to my eyes.
I was too young to even know about this or anyone on board but i will help to Say RIP to all those who did not make it RIP
Was the air traffic controller at fault?
RIP to all the victims, especially Police Officer Glenville Lewis (Brother) who was from zicack ,portsmouth(.maggie cube brother).still remember living in antigua and getting this sad news..you were a great guy with a smile always on your face..gone too soon
wow i was 19 years valda i remember you, friend of my family you spend the holiday at our home, that day when u left i was not home to say bye.. R.I P. your memories live on.
this is a day I can never never forget may there souls rest in peace Marlon Royer, Valda Simon , an Lewis I still remember them but life goes on sad times but god is in control
I still feel the pain as if it happened this morning.
I was connected to every single person on that flight (except the pilot) one way or the other.
We have to thank God in spite of it all. Because every time a plane touches down at Melville Hall Airport it\’s a miracle. This airport should be relocated decades ago!!! To see the maneuver those pilot have to make over these mountains, coconut trees, ravines and diving down like a bird of prey; it\’s something to make you scared to death. Next time I coming from Guadeloupe to Dominica I driving.
sad memories.
Your memories leave on Jasmine, Nyanna and Johnathan aka Chucky. An open wound for all the families who lost loved ones in this flight
Yr memories live on Jasmine, Nyanna and Johnathan aka Chucky. An open wound for all the families
It is already 18 years since that fateful day. How time flies. Remember them in prayers.
Reliving this sad memory and of their loss, it was a sad day for all Dominican residents and other Dominicans who resided abroad; some still do.
Whatever occurs in Dominica, both good and bad, disappointing and other, affects us all, wherever we reside.
Wherever Dominicans reside, depending on the circumstances, they laugh with you D/can residents and cry with you. We are all Dominicans and we are with you in all matters.
For their families who will always think of what occurred to their loved ones, it will be a lasting, sad memory. Continue to be strong and in the Lord.
Think of their plight when they realized the inevitable, their anxiety and sufferings. It is heart-rending. May their souls rest in peace. Amen!
We pray that no such disaster ever occurs in Dominica; in fact, nowhere at all. God be with all travelers.
How sad! It’s 18 years now and yet it is still fresh in my mind because I remembered searching for the missing plane, and after it was located I remember going to the wreckage, and then carrying dead bodies from way down in the valley. Lord strengthen the relatives and loved ones as they continue to mourn.
All together the month of August, especially the last part, has not been very friendly to us. In fact it has been very destructive. Let’s not forget hurricane David was on August 29, 1979; Erika August 28, 2015, Air disaster August 23, 1998 and cake cutting storm was on August 25-26, 2015.
Interim PM OJ Seraphin was on island during David. PM Edison James was here during the crash. Ammmm was PM Skerrit here during Erika? Was he in Macau cutting cake with his friends, who were later arrested, and jailed in the US for corruption? Since we are still in the month of August, may I take this opportunity to ask the world where is PM Skerrit?
you are ohh soo very smart… more questions than answers… but as mr skerrit once told us it is not our damn business..
I was about to give you a thumbs up, but uncontinuing reading i had to give you a thumbs down. Why do you all always have to add politics where it’s not necessary? My goodness!!
U started sooo well even carried the bodies , I THANK AND SALUTE FOR THIS but u just had to spoil it .DID Mr Seraphin stop David or Mr Edison stop the crash or did Mr skerrit caused Erika ? let’s not inject politics in every little thing the subject is a PLANE CRASH my friend, the may pwee have not and will never work, get some serious people who are involved in their respective districts and give the L party something to think about at the polls..Why do u think Mr Charles and Mr Douglas spent all their time helping other candidates on their team ?Beacuse they did their work during the previous 4 years,they were visible..remember the government has the money and can step up in one year and fool the people , and u can’t, money speaks and ….this is just my 2 cents ,if threr is any merit or not it’s your call think or dump ….by the way I am not a voter ..and I know that u might say SHOUT THE HELL UP U HAVE NO SAY but consider how much say that u have AFTER U HAVE VOTED PEACE
oh! shameless, What’s your worth? disappointing thoe? all nations have to leave with a few like you.
Lol. What a comparison!! In that case, I can’t blame the PM for leaving island during the final days of August. If that period is historically a period of doom, pain and death, then the late Booplay penned a prophetic line when he sang, “Captain never there, Air, Dominica on remote control”. Ha ha ha ha ha.
To this day it is allege that not one cents has been paid out by the insurance company to the family of the decease.
Are u real? This is unbelievable
May eternal Rest Granted unto them. R.I. P. Comrade Glenville Lewis, Well loved by all his collegues, At P.H.Q. an avid photographer, served with distintion. Gone but not Forgotton! Suggestion, the portfolio, with responsibility for our Lawenforcement agencies, shoul errect a Memorial Wall, in remembrance of our fallen Heroes, and pay them Respect, celebrate their life, when the date upon which they sadly left us should be Observed. That`s the least we can do for all those who were of Service to their Country. Just a sugestion. Keeping it in focus.
We miss you Malon
The Country is stable because of how the Govt is running & Dominica!! God is not Hurricane he does sleep. Wake up Dominican’s & small the Coffee….
i stand to be corrected but i think that crash was in 1999 not 1998.
It was 1998
Memories of my lil Cousin “Kelly”…..
It was a very sad time for Dominicans..May the continue to RIP.
THis was a very sad day. May there souls continue to rest in Peace
This is still so hurtful. I am in tears as I remember my friend Marlon Royer. Life is so unfair. We attended vacation bible school every summer together. Im still so distraught by this.
This story is so painful and reliving that fateful day. God help us
if i am to corretct it was not josephine but jasmine francois
You are correct on that.
And my son and I was supposed to be on that flight, but I had a change of heart and decided to go on a late date.
I didn’t understand why I changed the date until I heard that heartbreaking news.
I literally shivered reading your comment..
still very sad
What a sad day for Dominica most of all my village which lost 3 family members. Continue to rest in the fathers arms.
i read this with tears in my eyes as i remembered that day like it was yesterday. i remembered DBS was playing all gospel songs that day people were calling in crying and praying i will forever remember that day
After all these years this still hurts
. May their soul continue to rest in perfect peace. Officer Glenville, I still miss that smile. He was a people’ police officer and avid photographer from his days working at Astaphans before joining the force and spending time in CID as the crime scene photographer.
Always Assertive!
Hmm…
Dominica seems to have a maleh with August, especially the last week in August.
May they all RIP. The victims of Hurricane David, 29/08/1979, Cardinal Airlines crash 23/08/1998, Tropical Storm Ericka 27/08/2015…
Dominica We WILL rise again!
These disasters will occasionally strike and yet some are still very much the same, if not worst and to their fellow people. One would think after Erika, the attitude of some would be better.
Disasters do not occur without reason. This is another reason why Dominicans should love one another, care for each other, unite and in prayer. These are Christian acts – of godliness. When will some learn and what else will it take for them to learn?
With a time span of 17 and 19 years apart respectively.
RIP Marlon and Latoya DGS ole school
I remembered seeing this on television when it happened. Very sad day indeed.