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| 'Hero' pilot killed in Caribbean | 'Hero' pilot killed in Caribbean |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A British pilot has been hailed a hero after he died while saving his nine passengers by ditching his plane into the Caribbean sea. | |
| Robert Mansell, 32, originally from Knowle, West Midlands, had used his skills as a "good pilot" to save lives, said his employers Divi Divi Air. | Robert Mansell, 32, originally from Knowle, West Midlands, had used his skills as a "good pilot" to save lives, said his employers Divi Divi Air. |
| He was flying between the south Caribbean islands of Curacao and Bonaire on Wednesday when he crashed. | He was flying between the south Caribbean islands of Curacao and Bonaire on Wednesday when he crashed. |
| All nine passengers escaped the sinking plane, but the pilot's body is missing. | All nine passengers escaped the sinking plane, but the pilot's body is missing. |
| Captain Mansell was five minutes short of the destination when he was forced to ditch the twin-engine Britten-Norman Islander. | Captain Mansell was five minutes short of the destination when he was forced to ditch the twin-engine Britten-Norman Islander. |
| The passengers escaped the sinking aircraft, but he was still strapped into his seat as it disappeared into waters reported to be 150 metres deep. | The passengers escaped the sinking aircraft, but he was still strapped into his seat as it disappeared into waters reported to be 150 metres deep. |
| Other pilots wouldn't have known what to do but he landed the aircraft so that everyone could get out safely Simon Janzen, Divi Divi Air | Other pilots wouldn't have known what to do but he landed the aircraft so that everyone could get out safely Simon Janzen, Divi Divi Air |
| Colleagues at Divi Divi Air are said to be devastated by his death, describing him as a highly respected and qualified flyer. | Colleagues at Divi Divi Air are said to be devastated by his death, describing him as a highly respected and qualified flyer. |
| Simon Janzen, from the company, said: "He's a hero. All the passengers survived and he is the only one missing. If he wasn't a good pilot, he couldn't have ditched it so everyone could be saved. | Simon Janzen, from the company, said: "He's a hero. All the passengers survived and he is the only one missing. If he wasn't a good pilot, he couldn't have ditched it so everyone could be saved. |
| "Other pilots wouldn't have known what to do but he landed the aircraft so that everyone could get out safely." | "Other pilots wouldn't have known what to do but he landed the aircraft so that everyone could get out safely." |
| The crash happened after the right engine of the plane failed, and Capt Mansell made a mayday call before ditching, he added. | The crash happened after the right engine of the plane failed, and Capt Mansell made a mayday call before ditching, he added. |
| Divi Divi Air Managing Director Germaine Ritchie said the local civil aviation authority were conducting a "thorough investigation" into the accident. | Divi Divi Air Managing Director Germaine Ritchie said the local civil aviation authority were conducting a "thorough investigation" into the accident. |
| She said passengers had informed her that the pilot was "performing beyond what is expected of a person", had been "calm throughout the entire flight" and was "doing his utmost to save those on board". | She said passengers had informed her that the pilot was "performing beyond what is expected of a person", had been "calm throughout the entire flight" and was "doing his utmost to save those on board". |
| She added that Capt Mansell was a meticulous pilot who had an "excellent track record" and was "very much respected" among his peers. | She added that Capt Mansell was a meticulous pilot who had an "excellent track record" and was "very much respected" among his peers. |
| Tributes on a local news website, the St Maarten Island Time, have described Capt Mansell as a "true hero" for saving the passengers. | Tributes on a local news website, the St Maarten Island Time, have described Capt Mansell as a "true hero" for saving the passengers. |
| Capt Mansell worked for Winair before moving to work for Avion di Divi Divi. | Capt Mansell worked for Winair before moving to work for Avion di Divi Divi. |
| Divi Divi Air, established in 2001 on the island of Curacao, operates up to nine flights a day between Caribbean islands. | Divi Divi Air, established in 2001 on the island of Curacao, operates up to nine flights a day between Caribbean islands. |
| Bonaire, which along with Curacao is part of the Netherlands Antilles, lies about 50 miles off the coast of Venezuela. | Bonaire, which along with Curacao is part of the Netherlands Antilles, lies about 50 miles off the coast of Venezuela. |