A plane carrying two pastors and their families has crashed in the Bahamas, killing all nine on board, police have confirmed.
Leader of the Bahamas Faith Ministries Pastor Myles Munroe and his wife, Ruth, and deputy, Richard Pinder and his family died on Sunday. Their private jet hit a shipyard construction crane as it flew into Grand Bahama International Airport.
A well-known religious leader in the region, Pastor Munroe was on his way to host a church conference, the Global Leadership Forum, in Freeport.
A status was posted this morning on Munroe's official Facebook page, confirming that the conference will go ahead.
"On behalf of Myles Munroe International and ITWLA. We would like to inform you that the Global Leadership Forum will continue. The Forum will be for two and a half days (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning)," it read.
"This is what Dr. Munroe would have wanted. Please keep his family and the ministry in prayers."
Former US ambassador to the United Nations, Andrew Young, was also scheduled to speak at the summit.
"Ambassador Young expresses his deep sadness over the tragic death of his friends Dr. Myles and Mrs. Ruth Munroe. He offers condolences to the Munroe family and the families of the other souls who lost their lives as a result of this shocking plane crash," the Andrew Young Foundation said in a statement.
According to local authorities, the jet exploded on impact at around 5.10pm EST on Sunday, and a full-scale investigation into the incident has begun today.
Condolences have already been pouring in on the internet:
RIP Pastor Myles Monroe and all who perished in this crash. We pray for the family, friends and followers worldwide pic.twitter.com/GUBMLejPuw
— Liz Black (@Lizblacklive) November 10, 2014 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">Love & prayers to the family of Dr.Myles Monroe. A great loss. Pastor, author friend. R.I.P.
— T F Tenney (@TFTenney) November 10, 2014 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">We honour the life of #MylesMunroe - a great leader and humble servant whose example will continue to inspire. pic.twitter.com/GF9K8lWlzZ
— GOD TV (@GODTV) November 10, 2014 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">Last pics of Pastor Myles Monroe and all men on board. May their soul RIP pic.twitter.com/qeetQyBZnW
— #koroNation (@dibangoxx) November 10, 2014 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">
