KINGSTON, JAMAICA — A light aircraft reportedly involved in hurricane relief efforts crashed en route to Jamaica on Monday, but according to Transport Minister Daryl Vaz, the plane was never officially cleared to land in the country.
Speaking Monday evening, Vaz confirmed that the aircraft in question—tail number N30HG—had made a formal request to land at the IAM Jet Centre in Montego Bay via email on November 10. However, the application process was left incomplete.
“The Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority informed me that while a landing request was submitted, the IAM Jet Centre responded with the necessary requirements for permit issuance. There was no follow-up. As a result, no permit was granted,” said Vaz.
Despite lacking authorization, the aircraft reportedly made two prior trips to Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa’s passage. These trips, Vaz noted, were routed through the Cayman Islands before arriving in Jamaica.
The plane departed Florida on Monday morning before going down under undisclosed circumstances. Details about the pilot, passengers, and cargo have not yet been confirmed. The Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority is working with U.S. authorities to gather more information.
“While we await a full report from American officials, we can confirm that the aircraft had entered Jamaican airspace twice before—both times post-Melissa—without securing the required permit. This incident raises serious concerns,” the Minister added.
No further information on the crash site or condition of the aircraft has been released at this time. Jamaican and U.S. aviation regulators are expected to issue formal updates once investigations progress.
