The foreign aircraft discovered hidden at a Region Nine airstrip several weeks ago has been repaired and was yesterday flown to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) hangar located at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri.
According to a GDF release, the illegal aircraft bearing registration number N767Z was flown from Yupukari to Lethem and then Timehri. It arrived at Timehri at 10:00 hrs.
The release said that Aeronautical Engineers of the GDF Air Corps, after inspecting the aircraft, had identified its problems. The necessary spares were sourced, and the repairs conducted, resulted in the aircraft becoming operable.
The aircraft was subsequently flown by GDF pilots to Lethem last Friday where it overnighted. This allowed for the GDF Engineers to conduct further repairs and functional checks under more favourable conditions, so as to ensure the aircraft’s suitability to fly to Timehri. Consequently, the aircraft departed Lethem for CJIA at 09:10 hrs, and is currently secured at the GDF Air Corps Hangar, Air Station London, CJIA.
Investigations are ongoing with regard to all aspects surrounding the discovery of the aircraft, the release said.
A statement from the GDF had said that a joint patrol from the GDF and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) was sent to the area and the discovery of a Cessna aircraft was made around 09:50 hrs on September 13.
GDF Chief of Staff Brigadier Mark Phillips when contacted at the time of the discovery, told Stabroek News investigators were checking everything and based on checks, reports will be submitted and decisions will be made.
He had also confirmed that no drugs were found on the aircraft.
Brigadier (rtd) Edward Collins has since been sworn in as the sole commissioner to conduct an inquiry into the circumstances under which the aircraft landed in this country.
The retired brigadier was called upon by President David Granger to lead the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) which would investigate, examine, advice and report on all the circumstances regarding the foreign aircraft.
