The final victim of the crash that killed Dr Myles Munroe and eight others has been identified. American Diego DeSantiago, pictured here with Dr Munroe, frequently travelled around the world as a translator with the Bahamian pastor.
By DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
INVESTIGATORS have found the cockpit voice recorder and the digital electronic engine monitors from the ill-fated Lear jet which crashed on Sunday in Grand Bahama, killing all nine people on board, including religious leader Dr Myles Munroe.
A statement released by the Department of Civil Aviation said it is anticipated that these critical pieces of equipment will assist investigators in determining the cause of the crash.
The news came as the final victim’s name was released. He was Diego DeSantiago, a 38-year-old US man who frequently travelled with Dr Munroe as a translator.
Originally, reports had suggested that the final victim of the crash had been an African visitor, but yesterday it was confirmed that Mr DeSantiago, a frequent visitor to The Bahamas, was the remaining passenger on the plane.
The team of investigators combing the crash site includes four officers from the Department of Civil Aviation’s Aircraft Accident Investigation and Prevention Unit, three officials from Bombardier, the jet’s manufacturers, one from the US’ Federal Aviation Administration, and one official from the National Transportation Safety Board.
The plane was a US-registered aircraft.
Dr Munroe, founder and president of Bahamas Faith Ministries International, his wife Ruth, Dr Richard Pinder, a BFMI executive, Lavard and Rudel Parks, BFMI youth ministers, and their son young Johanan were on board.
Pilot Capt Stanley Thurston, co-pilot Frankan Cooper, and 38-year-old Colorado resident Diego DeSantiago, were also killed.
They were heading to Grand Bahama for the 2014 Global International Summit, which Dr Munroe was to host.
The voice recorder will provide vital information to investigators into the final moments of the flight as it was making its approach to land at Grand Bahama International Airport, officials said.
The device records what the crew said and monitors any sounds that occurred within the cockpit. It is also extremely important for determining the timing of events because it contains information such as communication between the crew and ground control and other planes. The cockpit voice recorder is usually located in the tail of a plane.
The plane crashed into a junk pile just after 5pm, after clipping a crane and reportedly exploding.
It is believed that bad weather was a contributing factor to the crash.
Dr Munroe’s children are still in Grand Bahama at the conference.
The Tribune has learned that Charo Munroe, his son, is expected to speak during the closing of the conference today.
While in Grand Bahama on Monday, Prime Minister Perry Christie visited the crash site with Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna Martin. He described the incident as a “tragic unpredictable loss of life.”
“We wanted to go to the site to get a sense of what could have gone wrong,” he said on Monday.
“For us it is really one that we know that as leaders of our country we all deeply regret but we must find the answers and we must ensure wherever the answers take us that if it has policy implications we can effect whatever changes we have to make using this as an example.”
Ms Hanna Martin said that whenever a fatal crash occurs it is always a terrible incident.
She commended the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Grand Bahama Shipyard for the tremendous assistance in the recovery efforts following the crash.
“We credit the police force for working through the night in the rain and the shipyard for their assistance in terms of the heavy equipment and crane to help in the search and recovery efforts,” she said.
Condolences continue to pour in from the Grand Bahama business community.
Kevin D Seymour, president of the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce, extended condolences to the bereaved families.
“Our appreciation is extended to the emergency personnel who responded to the call and also offer our encouragement and support to the management and staff of the Grand Bahama Shipyard, who are no doubt traumatised by this tragic event,” he said.
Mr Seymour said Dr Munroe’s legacy will live on, both nationally and globally, as he taught and encouraged all who heard his message.
“We thank him for bringing the 2014 Global Leadership Forum to Grand Bahama and pray for all participants who are in mourning,” he said.
“In an interview, Dr Munroe stated his purpose in life was to transform followers into leaders and leaders into agents for change. May we all embrace his teachings and move forward in unity, love and respect for each other,” said Mr Seymour.
Comments
John 10 years ago
Now it is a wait and see ordeal to find out what the investigations reveal.
reverendrichlive 10 years ago
The careless Bahamians, leaving a crane up where planes have to line. A pilot friend of mine from Miami, Florida flew into this same airport on a clear day and saw that crane and told the authorities about it, because it was poorly lite; obviously, nothing was done to remove this crane which Dr Munroe's plane hit. Whoever drove and left this crane up must be held accountable and charges with the lost of these nine precious lives. This accident could have and should have been avoided. All I can say is, " The CARELESS BAHAMIANS."
BoopaDoop 10 years ago
A pilot friend of mine from The Bahamas told me that the crane is 4 miles from the airport's runway and planes that pass over the crane are never low enough to come even close to the crane. The crane is not an issue. Tell that to your pilot friend from Miami, Florida.
Fitmiss 10 years ago
Please check your facts. The shipyard and airport are miles apart. The crane was doing what cranes are manufactured to do. Whatever the reason the plane was too low as the runway is not near that area. I would advise you to keep inflammatory comments to yourself as this is a sensitive subject at this time. The shipyard does not come into play in this equation at all. Perhaps moving forward nonetheless, other precautionary steps such as better lighting should be considered as well as possibly lowering the cranes when not being utilized. By the way I am from Freeport, Grand Bahama so I am familiar with the layout.
duppyVAT 10 years ago
You are correct ................. more than likely it was pilot error or some technical malfunction due to weather conditions.
jusscoolin 10 years ago
100% correct those cranes are much too low. everyday I watch planes fly right over them. But like you said at night it's poorly lit. So lets let the Experts handle that!
TalRussell 10 years ago
Having piloted into Freeport airport i seem recall its aligned with runway 6? Under poor visibility it can be an issue if flying altitude drops below approach levels. Unless recently installed the airport has no radar.
BoopaDoop 10 years ago
You are a Bahamaland pilot comrade too?
TalRussell 10 years ago
The Comrade accident investigators at the scene of the crash and hopefully with the aid of the Black Box now having been recovered it can be determined, if in fact the collision into the construction crane was the leading cause of the crash, or came after the loss of control/ downing of the aircraft had already commenced? The Black Box should give up what was going last minutes in cockpit of the aircraft and was the aircraft's decreases altitude controlled or rapid?
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