Bahamian music group “still shocked” after bandmates killed in small plane crash

Bahamian music group still shocked after - Thinking Process: 1. **Analyze the Request:** * **Role:** Professional editor. * **Task:** Rewrite the provided article into a new, unique version with proper HTML formatting. * **Source:** CBS News article about Da Pond Band members killed in a plane crash in the Bahamas. * **Language:** English (preserve source language). * **Formatting:** Clean HTML using `

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Bahamian Music Group "Still Shocked" After Bandmates Killed in Small Plane Crash

* *Intro:* The beloved musical ensemble Da Pond Band is processing a devastating loss following a tragic aviation accident in the Bahamas. Five of their fellow musicians and a prominent DJ lost their lives when a Flamingo Air aircraft went down on Friday. All ten individuals aboard the vessel perished in the incident. The group was preparing to headline an Independence Day event on Andros Island alongside a well-known disc jockey. * *Flight Details:* According to the Bahamian Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority, the aircraft departed from Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau. It was heading toward San Andros but met its fate in North Andros. While the journey usually lasts less than twenty minutes, this particular flight experienced delays. Shenia Roberts, a singer for the group, had already reached Andros Island earlier that day. She was anticipating the arrival of her colleagues when the news broke. * *Roberts' Experience:* Roberts revealed that five members of her troupe were among the fatalities. Speaking to CBS News, she expressed her grief, noting, "They were the people that I talked to in the morning, in the night." She described them as close friends and confidants whom she had been waiting for. Roberts boarded the same aircraft at approximately 7 a.m., sharing the ride with the deceased musicians. She remarked on the condition of the vessel, stating, "You could tell it was an old plane. But we didn't have any issues." * *The Delay:* A key factor in the tragedy appears to be the pilot's decision to wait for more passengers. Roberts mentioned that the pilot remained on the tarmac for two hours beyond the scheduled departure time. She recalled texting with Giovanni McKenzie, one of the band leaders who died. McKenzie informed her that the pilot was attempting to fill the remaining seats. A screenshot of a WhatsApp message shows McKenzie writing at 12:01 p.m. that the pilot was "waiting round for more people to full up the plane." * *Victims:* The band officially identified the deceased members as Giovanni McKenzie, Mateo Winder, Rashad Storr, Tonique Gilot, and Travis Johnson. Additionally, Melvin Henfield, widely recognized as DJ Fresh, was on board. Three other non-performers also lost their lives, though their identities remain unconfirmed by officials. * *Nicholas Oliver Jr.:* One of the passengers is believed to be sixteen-year-old Nicholas Oliver Jr. His mother, Anasthasia Rolle, shared with CBS News that she suspects her son was added to the manifest at the eleventh hour. Nicholas had planned to take a ferry with his father but missed the connection. His father rushed to the airport to secure a spot on a plane for him. Rolle explained that she watched planes land in San Andros but could not locate her son. Eventually, she realized he must have been on the crashed flight. * *Miller's Perspective:* Shaniese Miller, another survivor, reflected on her final moments with the group. She remembered seeing them the previous Friday at a weekly Nassau performance. Describing the venue as a hotspot for locals and international visitors, Miller said, "We were having so much fun, and after the second set, we were, they were just saying how they were so excited to go to Andros." * *Community Impact:* The loss has deeply affected the local entertainment scene. Anishka Lewis, a singer who frequently collaborated with Da Pond Band, expressed her sorrow. She recalled speaking with the group during rehearsals until 1 a.m. the night before. "I told them, I say, listen, I love and appreciate y'all, man. Thank y'all for putting in the time and effort and energy into it, and I can't wait to see y'all on Saturday," Lewis recounted. * *Investigation & Aftermath:* Bahamian authorities are currently investigating the cause of the accident. Flamingo Air has temporarily halted all operations following two separate incidents on the same day. Earlier, another airline plane caught fire upon landing in Nassau, though no one was injured in that occurrence. Miller summarized the collective feeling, stating, "I'm still shocked that they're gone. I can't believe it. They're my family and I never expected that to happen." 6. **Review and Refine:** * *Word Count Check:* Let's estimate. The draft looks solid. I need to make sure I don't accidentally use 8+ consecutive words from the source. * *Source Phrase:* "They were the people that I talked to in the morning, in the night" -> *My version:* "They were the people that I talked to in the morning, in the night" (This is a direct quote, so it's allowed inside `

`). * *Source Phrase:* "You could tell it was an old plane" -> *My version:* "You could tell it was an old plane" (Direct quote). * *Source Phrase:* "waiting round for more people to full up the plane" -> *My version:* "waiting round for more people to full up the plane" (Direct quote). * *Source Phrase:* "I'm still shocked that they're gone. I can't believe it." -> *My version:* "I'm still shocked that they're gone. I can't believe it." (Direct quote). * *Source Phrase:* "They're my family and I never expected that to happen." -> *My version:* "They're my family and I never expected that to happen." (Direct quote). * *Source Phrase:* "I told them, I say, listen, I love and appreciate y'all, man." -> *My version:* "I told them, I say, listen, I love and appreciate y'all, man." (Direct quote). * *Source Phrase:* "Thank y'all for putting in the time and effort and energy into it, and I can't wait to see y'all on Saturday." -> *My version:* "Thank y'all for putting in the time and effort and energy into it, and I can't wait to see y'all on Saturday." (Direct quote). * *Non-quote check:* "Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau" -> *My version:* "Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau" (Proper noun, usually okay, but I'll change slightly to "Nassau's Lynden Pindling International Airport"). * *Non-quote check:* "Bahamian Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority" -> *My version:* "Bahamian Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority" (Proper noun). * *Non-quote check:* "Flamingo Air" -> *My version:* "Flamingo Air" (Proper noun). * *Non-quote check:* "Independence Day celebration on Andros Island" -> *My version:* "Independence Day celebration on Andros Island" (Event name). * *Wait, constraint:* "Do NOT copy sentences verbatim; avoid long phrases (no 8+ consecutive words)". Proper nouns and quotes are exceptions, but I should be careful with descriptive phrases. * *Example:* "killing all 10 people on board" -> *My version:* "All ten individuals aboard the vessel perished". * *Example:* "A flight that typically takes under 20 minutes" -> *My version:* "While the journey usually lasts less than twenty minutes". * *Example:* "Earlier in the day, Shenia Roberts... had already arrived" -> *My version:* "Shenia Roberts, a singer for the group, had already reached Andros Island earlier that day." * *Example:* "Roberts said five members of their group were killed in the crash." -> *My version:* "Roberts revealed that five members of her troupe were among the fatalities." * *Example:* "She said she flew in from Nassau on the same plane, flown by the same pilot, at around 7 a.m." -> *My version:* "Roberts boarded the same aircraft at approximately 7 a.m., sharing the ride with the deceased musicians." * *Example:* "Bahamian investigators are looking into what led to the crash." -> *My version:* "Bahamian authorities are currently investigating the cause of the accident." * *Example:* "Flamingo Air suspended all flights after two emergency incidents happened on the same day." -> *My version:* "Flamingo Air has temporarily halted all operations following two separate incidents on the same day." * *Example:* "Earlier in the day, the airline had a separate plane catch fire after landing in Nassau, according to Bahamian officials." -> *My version:* "Earlier, another airline plane caught fire upon landing in Nassau, though no one was injured in that occurrence." * *Example:* "Miller was last with the band members who died the previous Friday at a weekly performance they host in Nassau." -> *My version:* "Shaniese Miller, another survivor, reflected on her final moments with the group. She remembered seeing them the previous Friday at a weekly Nassau performance." * *Example:* "It's the hottest spot, every Bahamian is there. International people fly over just to come to see Da Pond," Miller told CBS News." -> *My version:* "Describing the venue as a hotspot for locals and international visitors, Miller said..." (I need to include the quote properly). *