Grand Bahama International Airport (GBIA) (
IATA: FPO,
ICAO: MYGF) is an
international airport in
Freeport, Bahamas. It was privately owned until the government of the Bahamas purchased it in April 2021. [2]
The airport was a joint venture between
Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) and The Port Group (or the
Grand Bahama Port Authority). The facility also includes 741 acres (300 ha) of land that adjoins it to the Freeport Harbour Company Limited as they operate as one entity, known as the Sea Air Business Centre (SABC).[3]
Facilities
The airport has a 3,359 m × 46 m (11,020 ft × 151 ft) runway which is capable of handling the largest aircraft in service and is relatively close to all major cities of the
Eastern Seaboard of the United States.
Some other features that are available at the Grand Bahama International Airport are:
VOR system
PAPI (Precision approach path indicator) system
Distance-remaining markers
Category seven fire fighting facilities
General aviation services
Air conditioned passenger terminal (Set temp: 28 degrees C)
On 12 November 1964,
Lockheed Lodestar N171Q stalled after take-off and was destroyed by fire in the subsequent crash, killing all four people on board.[4]
On 24 November 1979,
Convair 440-86 N444JM of
Mackey International Airlines was on an international non-scheduled passenger flight to
Fort Lauderdale International Airport when the starboard engine caught fire just after take-off. On approach to Grand Bahamas International, the engine fell off. On landing, the aircraft departed the runway and ended up in the sea. All 46 people on board escaped from the aircraft.[6]
On 20 July 2000, Douglas C-47A N54AA of Allied Air Freight suffered an engine failure on take-off from Grand Bahama International Airport on a cargo flight to
Nassau International Airport, Bahamas. The aircraft crashed while attempting to return to Grand Bahama International and was destroyed. Both crew were killed.[8]
On 9 November 2014, a Lear 36 Executive Jet crashed on approach to the airport. All nine people on board perished, including evangelist
Myles Munroe and his wife.[9]
On 7 February 2017, a Western Air Saab 340 passenger aircraft landing gear failed shortly after takeoff. The aircraft turned around and crashed landed at the airport. All 30 passengers survived and 2 sustained minor injuries.[10]
From 1–3 September 2019, the airport was pelted by
Hurricane Dorian, leaving the airport under six feet of water and heavily damaged.[11]
On 24 October 2020, An American Eagle ERJ-145LR (N674RJ) operating as Envoy Air Flight 4194 from Miami to Freeport had a runway excursion upon landing. Nobody was injured in the crash. The aircraft had suffered main gear damage, and the left main broke off.[citation needed]
References
^"Airport information for MYGF". World Aero Data. Archived from the original on 5 March 2019.{{
cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
link) Data current as of October 2006. Source: DAFIF.