Wednesday, January 22nd, 2025
Shortly after takeoff, the pilots of the Twin Otter DHC-6, registered HB-LUX, detected smoke in the cockpit. In response to this critical situation, they activated the emergency code Squawk 7700, triggering an immediate alert on ground radars. The nearest airport, Sint Maarten, was chosen for landing. The aircraft landed normally, 19 minutes after departure from SBH, where firefighters were already mobilized to intervene if necessary. The passengers and crew were taken care of upon arrival at the airport. A mechanic from Zimex, the Swiss company that owns the twin-engine aircraft, went to Sint Maarten to inspect the aircraft and determine the causes of the incident.