One of the 2 people in the ill-fated plane that crashed in Highgate St. Mary this morning has succumbed to his injuries.

Dead is 74 year old Dudley Beek, who was the pilot.

The condition of the other person is not known.

Reports from the Port Maria CIB are that about 10:30 a.m. the plane was enroute to the Ian Fleming International Airport when it developed mechanical problems, and crash landed in a heavily vegetated section of the Non-such community near Highgate.

Emergency responders and members of the security forces carried out a search and later located the downed aircraft.

The 2 injured occupants were airlifted to hospital by a Jamaica Defence Force helicopter.

And, residents of Hampstead in St. Mary are still in shock after witnessing this morning’s plane crash, which left one person dead.

The residents said they saw smoke coming from the crashed aircraft, shortly before the JDF, the fire brigade and the police arrived on the scene.

One alleged eye witness told Irie F M News that he saw when the aircraft appeared to have gotten into difficulties, before crashing.