PC-12 and BN-2 pilots unaware of one another’s presence before serious Caribbean airprox

A near miss occurred in the Caribbean involving a Pilatus PC-12 and a Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander, highlighting critical safety concerns regarding pilot awareness. French investigators determined that the PC-12 passed directly overhead at an altitude of just 100 feet while both aircraft were operating on the same inter-island route. Language barriers between the crews contributed to the lack of situational awareness, as did the absence of transponder communication. The incident underscores the potential dangers when turboprops and smaller aircraft share congested airspace. Authorities are now examining procedures for enhanced air traffic management within the region to prevent similar occurrences.