Release Statement On Mayaguana By Bahamas Minister of Transport and Aviation, Bahamas Runway Plane Crash That Killed Dr Myles Munroe His Wife & Daughter.
AN emergency evacuation flight turned deadly this morning when the plane chartered
to pick up the ailing individual crashed into a vehicle near the runway,
killing three people, the Minister of Aviation Glenys Hanna-Martin revealed.
3.29pm:
Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister of Transport and Aviation, has released the
following statement:
#“I
wish to provide an update to my previous statement on the status of the
investigation of this tragic incident.
#“As
previously communicated, an investigative team comprising members of the Royal
Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) and the Air Accident Prevention and Investigation
Unit (AAPIU) of the Civil Aviation Department traveled to Mayaguana at 5 a.m.
this morning. At this moment that team is on the ground at the airport in
Mayaguana conducting an investigation of the facts and circumstances
surrounding this tragic accident. In pursuance of this, witnesses are being
interviewed and photographic and other pieces of evidence are being collected.
I expect to travel to Mayaguana within the hour with the Member of Parliament
for MICAL, Hon V. Alfred Gray.
#“The
Bahamas Government is committed to ensuring that emergency capacity is
installed in all airports nationwide. As a result of this commitment and under
my tenure as Transport Minister between 2002 and 2007, solar powered emergency
runway lights were installed at seventeen Family Island airports. This policy
initiative eliminated the need for the use of high beam headlights from
vehicles to illuminate Family Island airport runways in emergency situations.
Glenys Hanna-Martin |
#“The Mayaguana Airport is the subject of a Heads of Agreement with the I Group, a foreign development group which under that agreement were obliged to rehabilitate the airport inclusive of lights and runway resurfacing. That agreement was reviewed by the previous administration for several years and it was only until February 2012 that a revised agreement was finalized between the former Government and the I Group. |
#“As
a result of this terrible turn of event the Ministry of Transport is now
intervening to procure the immediate installation of emergency lights in
Mayaguana and will thereafter install lights in Fresh Creek Andros and Stella
Maris, Long Island.”
#12:03pm:
The three victims of this morning's crash have been identified as the relatives
of former MICAL MP Sidney Collie. The deceased persons are his mother, Edith,
his sister, Enamay and her Canadian husband Tim Polowick
11.36am:
Civil Aviation has shut down the airport in Mayaguana.
#Officers
from Civil Aviation and officials from the Royal Bahamas Police Force are on
the island beginning their investigation into the crash. Reportedly the MP for
the area, V Alfred Gray, along with officials from the Ministry of Aviation are
awaiting the airport's reopening before they can fly in.
#11.26am:
There has been no update on the condition of Reverand Robert Black, who was
scheduled to be airlifted this morning by LeAir to the capital. According to
residents in Mayaguana, another flight has been arranged from Inagaua to carry
Mr Black sometime this evening.
#MAYAGUANA
- AN emergency evacuation flight turned deadly this morning when the plane
chartered to pick up an ailing individual crashed into a vehicle near the
island's runway, killing three people, Minister of Aviation Glenys Hanna-Martin
revealed.
#A
press release sent by Ms. Hanna-Martin said the three people killed were all
inside the vehicle parked near the runway.
#Two
people were aboard the LeAir charter plane that impacted with the vehicle,
however, it is not yet known whether they were injured during the incident.
#It
is also not known what happened to the person who was awaiting the emergency
flight.
#The
minister's report revealed that two vehicles had "strategically"
lined Mayaguana's unlit runway at about 12:30am in order to illuminate the
"usable portion" in preparation for the plane's landing.
#Consequently,
the plane crashed into one of the vehicles lighting the runway.
#According
to Ms. Hanna-Martin's report, an investigation will be carried out by the
Department of Civil Aviation.
#The
Tribune will issue more information as it becomes available.
#Here
is Ms. Hanna Martin's full statement:
#In
the early hours of this morning I was informed of an aviation accident in
Mayaguana resulting in the tragic death of 3 people. I am advised that all 3
persons are residents of the island of Mayaguana.
#A
preliminary report from the Department of Civil Aviation says that on 4th
April, 2013 at approximately 12:30 a.m. a Cessna C402 owned by Leair Charter
Service Limited with a crew of 2 on board was making a landing at night for an
emergency evacuation flight with two vehicles strategically placed to outline
the useable portion of the runway. It is reported that the aircraft made
contact with one of the vehicles resulting in the deaths of the 3 passengers in
that vehicle.
#An
investigative team comprising the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Air
Accident Investigation and Prevention Unit of the Department of Civil Aviation
will fly into Mayaguana at 5 a.m. this morning.
#I
wish to assure that a full investigation will be carried out by the Department
of Civil Aviation into the causes and circumstances surrounding this terrible
event. I will report further as information permits. Out of respect for the
families, the names of the persons killed will not be disclosed until an
official release is made by the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
#I
extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of these beloved persons and to
the wider community of Mayaguana who share in this loss.
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