MELBOURNE, Fla. (CBS12) — A passenger from a plane that crashed into the ocean off Florida earlier this week has been arrested for cocaine smuggling.
According to reports, 33-year-old Jonathan Gardiner, one of 11 Bahamian adults rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and Air Force, faces charges related to an ongoing cocaine smuggling operation that allegedly started in 2023.
Federal complaints indicate Gardiner was found with a bag containing $30,000 in Bahamian cash, linked to a politician implicated in a past cocaine shipment from Colombia. He was also reportedly in possession of three mobile phones at the time of the crash.
The crash occurred approximately 50 miles east of Vero Beach Regional Airport at 12:05 p.m. on May 12, after the plane departed from Marsh Harbour Airport heading to Grand Bahama International Airport. Witnesses reported that the pilot declared an emergency before communication was lost with air traffic control. USCG crews later located the aircraft off Fort Pierce.
Officials confirmed that three individuals sustained serious injuries. While Bahamian authorities assisted in organizing the rescue, U.S. responders managed the operation quickly.
The plane was identified by USCG as a Beechcraft BE30. Investigators are examining potential engine failure as a cause, as the aircraft lost steering ability before crashing. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently investigating the incident.