Dr Myles Munroe and his wife Ruth.
By DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
DR MYLES Munroe, pastor of Bahamas Faith Ministries International, and his wife Ruth, were among the nine persons on board a Lear 36 executive jet that went down in a “gruesome” crash in bad weather in Grand Bahama on Sunday evening.
The plane, which left Nassau at 4.07pm, collided into a crane at the Grand Bahama Shipyard around 5.10pm and crashed in a nearby junk pile. All persons on board were killed instantly.
Although police have not released the identities of the victims, church officials have confirmed that Dr Richard Pinder, BFM’s senior vice-president, was also on board.
Pastor Lavard Parks, his wife, Rudel Parks, both BFM youth ministers, and their young son Johannan were also on the plane, according to a statement from Mr Parks’ public relations team.
Audio clip
PLANE CRASH EYE WITNESS (GRAPHIC CONTENT)
Unconfirmed reports state that Captain Stanley Thurston, along with a visitor from Africa, and another pilot were on board the ill fated plane.
It is believed severe weather conditions may have contributed to the crash.
According to reports from people at the scene, which were not confirmed by police, the plane “exploded in mid-air” after it hit the crane and then crashed.
Asst Commissioner of Police Emrick Seymour, officer in charge of the Grand Bahama District, said the aircraft went down into a recycled dumpsite at the shipyard.
“It is believed that all nine persons on board are dead,” he said.
“We have begun the recovery process. We have a team of officers and shipyard workers onsite – it is a gruesome scene out there,” ACP Seymour said.
A video of the crash site, which was circulated yesterday, showed one of the victims thrown from the plane with his skull apparently crushed.
At a press conference shortly after the crash, ACP Seymour said fuel was still present at the crash site and efforts were being made to stabilise the area so they could move in and recover the remains.
He said police could not release the identities of the victims until next of kin were identified. He said images of the crash and the victims’ bodies which were being posted online were “irresponsible.”
Dr Munroe and his party were heading to Freeport to attend the Global Leadership Forum, which he was to host in Grand Bahama today.
According to WSB-TV 2 in Atlanta, former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, a scheduled speaker at the event, did not get on the small plane because he was worried about flying in bad weather.
Mourners
A crowd gathered at the roundabout on the Warren Levarity Highway as the news of the tragedy and photos of the wreckage spread on social media. Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe was one of many who flocked to the shipyard after learning the tragic news.
Those who had travelled to Grand Bahama for the conference were devastated after learning that Dr Munroe’s plane had crashed. A woman fainted and collapsed in the lobby area of the convention centre at the Grand Lucayan resort and had to be given oxygen. She was then carried out on a stretcher by EMS personnel for medical treatment.
When The Tribune arrived, a number of persons had gathered in a state of visible disbelief and shock.
Dr Munroe’s daughter and son, who were on Grand Bahama, were said to be devastated.
“This is a big blow,” said Pastor Eddie Victor. “Dr Munroe is indeed a world leader, and persons from 60 different countries have come to attend his leadership conference.
“When the news broke that Dr Munroe’s plane crashed, many persons were in a state of disbelief. But it was difficult to confirm because the plane was mangled,” he said.
In spite of the tragedy, The Tribune has learned that conference leaders have decided to go on with the event which starts today.
The Department of Civil Aviation said a full investigation into the crash will begin today.
Comments
SP 10 years ago
Incalculable lose for the Bahamas and the world!
ChaosObserver 10 years ago
Hit a crane? Really? Pilot error or crane operator/owner error? Sad loss of life....hopefully investigations turn up who was at fault.....
spoitier 10 years ago
It could've been many possibilities of what could've happened but crane operator/error would not be one of them, that plane wasn't suppose to be nowhere in the vicinity of that crane.
duppyVAT 10 years ago
Its a tragedy ....... but it would be interesting to know what the black box turns up on this crash. The shipyard is nowhere near the airport............. was the weather that bad or the pilots were that bad?
This will be an interesting funeral ....... wonder what Cabinet Ministers will get up there and speak after tearing Myles down over gambling and same sex marriage...............
banker 10 years ago
He was on his way to fleece the flock. He was charging $400 per person to attend the seminar that he was holding, and $150 for pay per view. This is just another biblical example of clearing the money-changers out of the temple. God acted in a very awesome way, and it should send a message to the other pastors. This was a very strong message from God, saying that if you preach apostasy, he will turn you into flying hamburger and snuff you out in the blink of an eye. God is good! I am sure that Jesus didn't approve of the limo and Lear jet. He urged his followers to give to the poor, be humble and not be seduced by the luxuries of the temporal life.
duppyVAT 10 years ago
Thats what am saying my man!!!!!!!!!!!!! a Hollywood pastor to the core. But the blind will always be fleeced by the wolves ................. hirelings!!!!!!!!!!!
ThisIsOurs 10 years ago
Personally I don't agree with religion as a business. None of us will ever know "why", Jesus said don't worry about what they did to die the way they did, worry about your own soul
On a purely human level I think it's a great loss
jusscoolin 10 years ago
A lot of flights coming in from Nassau comes in directly from the south head on toward the container port . Then they make their adjustment a turn northeast near the shipyard northeast and then east toward the airports eastern landing strip . Unconfirm reports is that they lost power dew to lightinin stricks in the area! But check out video on Mr Munroe it comforted me a lot. ( Dr Myles Monroe speaks of death on Jeff Koinange live show ) Youtube Check it out!
DEDDIE 10 years ago
I am always reminded that even Jesus had his dis-tractors. Its sad that even in death that some of you don't have the common decency to show a hint of humanity. The Bible declare that the wages of sin is death. It never indicated how that death should come.Jesus's death came in a most brutal manner.I can hear duppy and banker saying, "he could save others but he can't save himself".
banker 10 years ago
Jesus didn't parade around in the finest clothes, driving the finest chariots, having dinners with the governors, the Sadducees and the Pharisees. He preached humility and he didn't charge money for preaching salvation. Quite contrary, he fed the poor. How blind Bahamians are when it comes to religious charlatans.
Emac 10 years ago
I agree totally with this statement. But you are making it seems as if this tragedy is some form of punishment for Mr. Munroe's perceived lavish lifestyle which we all agree is contrary to the life Jesus spoke about and led. I for one do not believe in religion or even follow the preaching or the teachings of man when it comes to the bible. But clearly this event has nothing to do with the way Munroe led his life. Surely if we are judging this man, then we ourselves are guilty of Jesus' teaching.
DEDDIE 10 years ago
You speak highly of Jesus. I hope you have a relationship with him or maybe you prefer to keep him at arm's length."Jesus you're a good guy but that in your heart/born again is a bit too much for me".
banker 10 years ago
We weren't talking about me. We were talking about Myles Munroe and his $3,000 Armani suits, his private Lear jet, his limo with the retractable top, and his lavish lifestyle that was so anathema to Jesus, whom he professed to follow. The hypocrisy is equivalent to Hitlerites starting a Jewish benevolent fund. Talk that. Typical that you shoot the messenger when the messenger points out that the emperor is wearing no clothes. (Do you understand that analogy, or do you need an explanation?)
mangogirl01 10 years ago
Wow! Did you even know Pastor Munroe? What a bunch of bullshit! Pastor Munroe was a humble man, he did not wear $3,000 suits or had a limo! He did not live a lavish lifestyle. Pastor Munroe was a humble, down-to-earth man who treated everyone the same, he did not care if you was a president, governor, politician, banker or whatever position on this earth you held! He was a religious world traveller, communicator, teacher, leader which was his calling to spread God's word, so yes, a private jet was needed - it just made sense! So before you go and bash a man of God without even knowing him, please sit small and keep quiet!
Well_mudda_take_sic 10 years ago
Munroe's business model recognized that the more downtrodden people become as a result of government corruption and crony capitalism, the more inclined people are to cling to hope and become a flock of helpless sheep incapable of helping themselves. Nothing really new to this model as it's generally well known that the most successful Evangelical leaders and their movements tend to thrive in third world countries (and in poorer areas of developed countries) where the people are horribly oppressed and grossly under-educated as a result of the ongoing looting of a society's limited resources done by corrupt politicians and their equally corrupt political friends and business cronies. Such people have always been (by human nature) much more vulnerable to giving what little they may have to any charismatic highly motivated individual capable of offering them hope and the illusion of great strength in numbers behind a common cause. The success of Monroe's business model is a testament to the success of Ingraham and Christie in ploughing successive generations of Bahamians right into the ground!
duppyVAT 10 years ago
I suppose all those apologists for Myles Munroe will disagree with banker & duppy. But what say you to the other so-called Bahamian priests/pastors/apostles/evangelists/mands of God who parade around like the Sanhedrin but are doing absolutely nothing to advance God's agenda ..... but then again what is true religion????????????
Amorkor 10 years ago
This is a great lose in the body of Christ! My condolences to Dr. & mrs. Munroe's children, the church, and to all the families that have lost their love ones in this tragedy. Children of Zion, we need to stand as one body and pray for devine healing in the minds and souls of all the families members left behind. God bless you all as you pray.
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