Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill told Stabroek News on Tuesday that the official report on the December 6th, 2023 GDF helicopter crash will be publicly addressed within the next 30 days.
In January this year, this newspaper reported that the stakeholders’ deadline for submitting comments on the 2023 helicopter crash to Airworthiness Inspector Krishnanand Ramlachana was January 10th. Edghill has stated that the comments will be incorporated into the final report.
The helicopter crash claimed the lives of five members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF): Brigadier (retired) Gary Beaton, Colonel Michael Shahoud, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Charles, Lieutenant Colonel Sean Welcome, and Staff Sergeant Jason Khan.
Two others, Lieutenant Andio Crawford and Corporal Dwayne Jackson, survived the crash and were rescued from the wreckage.
According to the Ministry of Public Works, the search and rescue operation was initiated when a distress signal was received from the helicopter via the Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking system at the Timehri Control Tower at approximately 11:20 am on the day of the crash.
In response to the distress signal, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) activated the National Rescue Coordination Centre at 11:45 am, mobilizing search teams and resources. However, poor weather conditions initially hampered the operation, leading to a temporary suspension of the search.
Search efforts resumed on December 7 at 5:00 am, with five aircraft, including the GDF Skyvan and Bell 412, and a team of 27 personnel, including the On Scene Coordinator from the GCAA, deployed to locate the crash site. At approximately 10:40 am, the wreckage was located.
A Special Forces team, led by Colonel Howell, was eventually inserted 800 metres from the crash site and succeeded in reaching the wreckage and rescuing the two survivors.
