A light single-engine aircraft operated by a Seventh Day Adventist mission in Guyana crashed yesterday afternoon at the Paruima airstrip in Region 7(Cuyuni/Mazaruni).
Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Zulficar Mohammed confirmed that there was an aircraft incident, when contacted, but could not comment further. He said there had been no fatalities.
Reports are that the United States-registered aircraft, bearing registration N1051W, crashed while departing the airstrip at the border community. It is operated by the church mission, which operates under the name, Guyana Adventist Medical Aviation Services (GAMAS).
The aircraft reportedly sustained structural damage and a team of officials from the GCAA is expected to travel to the area today to investigate the incident. It was not clear what the extent was of the injuries sustained by the three occupants of the aircraft. The missionary group operates in the interior, picking up patients in need of urgent medical attention and transporting them to hospitals. It also transports villagers and community workers to remote villages.
Several years ago, another aircraft operated by the church missionaries had crashed while descending into Pariuma. The pilot at the time was the only occupant of the light Cessna aircraft and he escaped with minor injuries.
Earlier this year, a Cessna aircraft owned by Oxford Aviation, crashed landed at the Baramita airstrip in the North West District (NWD).
The six-seat Cessna 206 bearing the registration 8R-GRT, crashed on landing at the interior aerodrome and the pilot who was the only person on board escaped with minor injuries.
Last August, pilot Ayube Mazarally along with five passengers escaped with minor injuries when another aircraft operated by Oxford Aviation, crashed while departing the Ekereku Top aerodrome in Region Seven. The aircraft sustained major damage.
The company is reportedly making preparations to operate another aircraft on these shores.
