Cops say no plane crashed on La Isla Bonita

ernel dominguez

This past weekend the International Costa Maya Pageant was held in San Pedro.  During Sunday night’s finale, rumors were rampant about a plane crash on the island.  Reports of it saturated the airwaves of some radio stations this morning.  It caused alarm; months ago many were in disbelief when Sir Barry Bowen’s private plane crashed near the airstrip. But this suspect crash reportedly occurred at the north end of Ambergris Caye. News Five spoke to the Station Sergeant of the San Pedro Police Formation about the alleged crash.

Ernel Dominguez, Station Sergeant, San Pedro Police Formation

“Sometime after eight p.m. we got information of a plane in the Rocky Point area, that’s San Pedro, up the north coast. In respect to the information we received, we carried out our investigation. As a matter of fact, the Coastguard was informed and we have a few of our officers with the B.D.F. that went up the coast to verify the information. They have been in the area for approximately four to five hours checking around to verify the information and so far they have returned this morning. I would say they approximately about ten-thirty/eleven o’clock last night from the mainland and they went up the area and they returned this morning sometime around six-thirty a.m. only to tell us that they have not recovered anything nor they have not gathered any further information as to any incident, so to speak, of a plane down in that area.”

Jose Sanchez

“Did you also hear rumors that it may have been a drug plane making a drop?”

Ernel Dominguez

“No, the information basically was that a plane has been down in the area and they have also been hearing of other heavy engine rolling in the area. They are not certain if it was boat or an airplane but that’s more or less what the information was like.”

Jose Sanchez

“None of the local agencies have reported any planes missing?”

Ernel Dominguez

“No, so far we haven’t got any information related to that. We have done some enquiries so far. That has not been determined by either of the local airlines. Normally the Rocky Point area would normally be described to people as the area where there is an illegal activity from time to time. We have verified a few. As a matter of fact we have dealt with situations where we go into that area and the police has come under hostile firing from criminals or would be criminals who operate in that area.”

The Department of Civil Aviation has no records of a plane crash. Dominguez says if any fishermen see anything suspicious in the Rocky Point area, they are advised to report it to the police.