The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) this afternoon said that an intensive search is on for a Trans Guyana Cessna Caravan which is believed to have gone down somewhere between Olive Creek and Imbaimadai.
The Rescue Coordination Centre has dispatched the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Special Forces with Search and Rescue Units – one Cessna Caravan from Trans Guyana Airways and two helicopters from the GDF and Air Services Ltd.
Based on the last spot tracker information along with coordinates from the aircraft prior to going down, the area of interest has been identified as the remote, densely forested area in the vicinity of Olive Creek, mid Mazaruni.
The GCAA press release follows:
At 1456UTC (1056LST) Air Traffic Control received a message from another aircraft indicating that Trans Guyana Airways 700, Cessna Caravan on a shuttle operation between Olive Creek and Imbaimadai was going down. Several calls were immediately made by other aircraft but were all unsuccessful.
The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) was immediately activated by the Air Traffic Control Centre. The GDF, Police, Minister Benn and GCAA and CJIAC staff reported to the RCC.
Information revealed that the aircraft 8R-GHS departed Olive Creek for Imbaimadai at 1054LST with one other person on board. Two other aircraft that were in the area commenced reconnaissance immediately over the area.
The RCC dispatched the GDF Special Forces with Search and Rescue Units – one Cessna Caravan from Trans Guyana Airways two helicopters from GDF and Air Services Ltd.
Based on the last spot tracker information along with coordinates from the aircraft prior to going down, an area of interest was plotted and crews were briefed in the RCC. The area identified is in the remote, densely forested area in the vicinity of Olive Creek, mid Mazaruni.
The Trans Guyana Cessna Caravan departed at 1310 with three crew members and eight Special Forces Officers along with equipment and survival kits. The helicopters also departed around the same time. They arrived at Olive Creek at 1415LST and 1452LST.
Another aircraft from ASL joined the aircraft on the search mission. Six aircraft including two helicopters and four Cessna Caravans, nine Special Forces officers and nine crew members are involved in the Search Mission.
