OPA-LOCKA, Fla. – Barrington Irving is joining the effort to provide relief for the Bahamas in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian.
The first black pilot to fly solo around the world in 2007 left Tuesday morning from Miami-Opa-locka Executive Airport en route to Nassau with about 2,500 pounds of relief supplies.
"To be quite honest, what pushed me to just want to help, it could have easily been South Florida," Irving told Local 10 News.
One of Irving's students, Eric Cumberbatch, joined him on the flight.
Cumberbatch said he has family members who live in the Bahamas.
"Part of my grandma's house did collapse in," Cumberbatch said.
Although his grandmother wasn't hurt, she lost everything. It was Cumberbatch's first trip to the Bahamas in eight years.
Irving and Cumberbatch loaded the plane with water, fruit juice, adult diapers and first aid supplies.
Irving said he's made so many trips to the Bahamas since the devastating hurricane that he's lost count.