MELBOURNE, Fla. (CBS12) — A passenger from a plane crash off Florida's coast on May 12 has been arrested on cocaine smuggling charges.
According to reports, Jonathan Gardiner, 41, was among 11 Bahamian adults rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and Air Force after the plane went down approximately 50 miles east of Vero Beach Regional Airport at 12:05 p.m. The flight had departed from Marsh Harbour Airport and was en route to Grand Bahama International Airport when the pilot declared an emergency and lost communication with air traffic control.
NBC News reported that Gardiner was found with a paper bag containing $30,000 in Bahamian cash linked to a politician allegedly involved in a cocaine operation. He also possessed three mobile phones at the time of the incident.
USCG crews located the Beechcraft BE30 off the coast of Fort Pierce. Three individuals sustained serious injuries, prompting assistance from Bahamian authorities, although they did not deploy resources due to the swift rescue efforts by U.S. responders.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the crash, focusing on possible engine failure, as sources indicated the aircraft lost steering capabilities prior to the accident. The flight, originally expected to last about 20 minutes, veered far off course before crashing.