The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has launched an investigation into the recent fatality at the Kamarang Airstrip, Region Seven, Director General Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Egbert Field said on Monday.
Field told Stabroek News that investigators travelled to the incident site on Saturday. They are currently reviewing their information in a bid to determine the factors that contributed to the death of 29-year-old Nigel Rodrigues, of Kamarang Landing, Upper Mazaruni.
A completed report should be submitted to the authorities soon.
According to Field, aviation regulations state that no person should be present on an airstrip or runway while an aircraft is in motion.
While regulators are present on runways at Eugene F Correia International Airport and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Field said this is not the case for airstrips in the hinterland and supervision is dependent on law enforcement present in the area or aircraft operators.
At this point, the GCAA noted that it is unclear if any such measures were in place at Kamarang at the time of the incident.
Police on Friday said that the incident took place around 3 pm. Rodrigues, who was employed as a porter/cargo handler with Air Services Limited, was under the influence of alcohol.
Investigations revealed that Rodrigues was imbibing at Kamarang Landing when the aircraft, a Caravan 8R GFA, landed at the airstrip. Before the pilot could shut off the engine completely, Rodrigues apparently walked into the aircraft’s propeller.
Reports are that Rodrigues was supposed to offload the aircraft’s cargo.
Stabroek News was informed that Rodrigues is a Venezuelan who recently migrated here.
