ADDRESSING THE MEDIA – Transport and Aviation Minister, the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, addressed the media Monday, on the tragic plane crash that killed all passengers Sunday in Freeport. Shown behind the Minister are Director of Civil Aviation, Mr. Ivan L. Cleare and Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Lorraine Armbrister.
(BIS Photo: Vandyke Hepburn)
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FREEPORT, Bahamas - The
investigation into the tragic plane crash that killed ten passengers on Sunday in
Grand Bahama will be an effort between Civil Aviation inspectors, the plane’s
manufacturers, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), said
Transportation and Aviation Minister, the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin during a
press briefing on Monday.
Among those killed in the deadly crash
were world renowned religious leader, Dr. Myles Munroe and his wife Ruth, along
with other passengers who were flying to Grand Bahama from Nassau on a private
jet for the Global Leadership Forum. Dr.
Munroe was to be the forum’s host.
Minister Hanna-Martin said there are currently
three inspectors from Flight Standards at the crash site at the Grand Bahama
Shipyard, who are documenting the scene, while members of the Royal Bahamas
Police Force are working to preserve the scene for further inspection by Bombardier,
manufacturer of the aircraft, along with members of NTSB, who will arrive on
Tuesday.
This effort, said the Minister, will
conduct an investigation of the cockpit voice recorder to see what information
can be gained from it. “It’s really an investigation and we want to discourage
people from speculating – there’s lots of that and it’s not helpful. The
inspectors are on the ground. It’s going to help us understand exactly what it
was that happened that led to this terrible incident.”
The investigation will begin in full
force on Tuesday, said the Minister, when it is hoped more information will be
gathered. “A key, or a critical piece of information will be the cockpit voice
recorder or whether there is a data voice recorder. We are not sure of that
yet. But, that will greatly assist in understanding what happened here.”
Also present during the briefing were
the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Lorraine Armbrister and the Director of Civil
Aviation, Mr. Ivan L. Cleare.
The Minister says that many people fly
in planes, and whenever there is a crash, and when people die, it is a setback.
“In this case, there were some really outstanding contributors to our country
and internationally. There was also a child onboard, and so it had the array of
things that make it very difficult event for all of us. The Bahamas is a small
place and everybody feels in a very deep way.”
Minister Hanna-Martin had high praise
for the efforts of the Royal Bahamas Police Force who worked through the night
in stormy weather at a difficult scene. “I’d like to give them credit for all
they have done.”