The passengers shortly before boarding the ill-fated flight. Photo: CND

Above: a Learjet 36. Photo: CJ

The Department of Civil Aviation reported that the plane which crashed on Grand Bahama was a Lear 36 executive jet which departed the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) for the Grand Bahama International Airport.

The plane left LPIA at 4.07pm with nine people on board and crashed while making an approach for landing at Grand Bahama International Airport at 5.10pm, the Department of Civil Aviation said.

Tribune242 quoted an unnamed police source as saying that it was believed the group was heading to a conference hosted by Bahamas Faith Ministries International Pastor Myles Munroe.

The identities of the people on board have not been officially released.

The statement said while the department was advised of fatalities, it was awaiting confirmation from police on if there were any survivors.

The Grand Bahama Airport Company Crash Fire Rescue Department responded to the incident, and the Police and Bahamas Air Sea Rescue (BASRA) are presently on the scene.

The department said a full scale investigation will start tomorrow morning at daylight, which will include the Department of Civil Aviation Aircraft Accident Investigation Prevention Unit.

Pastor Munroe had visited Guyana during Bharrat Jagdeo's presidency. He was due back in June of this year but that trip was cancelled at the last moment. 

See previous story published on November 9, 2014:

Private Jet Carrying Nine Passengers Crashes in Grand Bahama

By the Caribbean Journal staff

A private jet crashed while making an approach for landing at Grand Bahama International Airport on Sunday, authorities said.

The Lear 36 Executive Jet was carrying nine passengers; the plane was destroyed and there were no survivors, according to an update from the Bahamian government.

It had departed from Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau at around 4:07 PM local time.

“The Department of Civil Aviation has been advised  that there were some fatalities and we are awaiting confirmation from the Royal Bahamas Police Force as to whether there were any survivors,” the Ministry of Transport said in a statement. “The Grand Bahama Airport Company Crash Fire Rescue Department responded to the incident, and the Police and Bahamas Air Sea Rescue (BASRA) are presently on the scene.”

The Bahamian government said a full-scale investigation would launch Monday morning at daylight.

That probe will include the Department of Civil Aviation Aircraft Accident Investigation Prevention Unit.