A Guyana Defence Force search and rescue team is closing in on the crash site of Air Services Limited Cessna 8R-YAC, which went down in a heavily forested area of Region Eight on Friday, with ground forces now reporting they have reached a position within visual proximity of the wreckage.
In a statement, the GDF confirmed it has mobilised key assets to support the operation, including a Bell 429 helicopter equipped with a hoist and specialised search and rescue capabilities, as well as a Skyvan aircraft to sustain the mission.
“A ground team from the GDF 31 Special Forces Squadron has been successfully inserted into the general area and has since reached a position within visual proximity of the confirmed crash site of aircraft 8R-YAC,” the GDF stated.
The team is navigating challenging terrain, including the presence of an escarpment, as it works to gain full access to the crash site. The GDF has promised further updates as the operation progresses.
The aircraft, a Cessna single-engine plane operated by Air Services Limited, departed Mahdia on Friday morning and was en route to Imbaimadai when it disappeared. The pilot, Captain Ryder Castello — a Nicaraguan national with approximately two decades of flying experience, including around ten years with ASL was the sole occupant on board at the time of the crash.
This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as the search and rescue operation continues.
