Ten people, including the pilot, were killed when a civilian aircraft crashed in the northern part of the Andros archipelago in the Bahamas on Friday, a tragic scene that turned a national celebration into a day of mourning.

Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis said in a press conference: 'What was supposed to be a day of celebration has turned into a day of mourning,' noting that the country was simultaneously celebrating the 53rd anniversary of its independence from the United Kingdom.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority said in a statement on Saturday that the crashed aircraft was a Cessna 402 operated by local airline Flamingo Air, en route from the international airport in the capital Nassau to San Andros Airport. The authority noted that 'the aircraft encountered difficulties and struck trees before landing.'

The nationalities of the victims have not yet been disclosed, while Flamingo Air confirmed its full cooperation with the relevant authorities to clarify the circumstances of the accident.

In a related context, the Ministry of Aviation revealed that another aircraft operated by the same company reported a fire on board earlier the same day, while media reported that the company has temporarily suspended its flights.

The Bahamas are located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba, and Andros Island is the largest island group in the archipelago.