The Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) has dispatched a team to the site of this morning’s plane crash in Highgate, St. Mary to conduct assessments.

The incident resulted in the death of pilot, Dudley Beek, while the other occupant of the plane remains hospitalized.

In a statement, the JCAA said the aircraft departed the Tinson Pen aerodrome for the Ian Fleming international airport at 9:03 a.m. with two persons on board.

The aircraft crashed in the Ballard’s Valley area of Highgate, at approximately 9:30 a.m.

The authority said the applicable emergency response plan was activated, with the search and rescue team of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) deployed.

The accident scene was identified at approximately 11:10 a.m. and two persons on board the aircraft were airlifted to the University Hospital of the West Indies.

One of them later succumbed to his injuries, and the condition of the other occupant in hospital is not known.

The JCAA said police personnel are on scene, securing the site and that the accident investigation team is en-route to the location, to commence the field component of the investigation.

The authority said it continues to work in collaboration with the JDF and other relevant authorities to conduct the necessary reconnaissance and support activities.

It added that the aircraft is an Ercoupe, which was authorized to operate in Jamaica up to January 2024.

It said both the US Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have been advised, pursuant to notification protocols, with regard to the United States of America being the state of registry of the aircraft.

The North America and Central Caribbean office of the International Civil Aviation Organization has also been notified of the accident.