The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has initiated an investigation following an incident involving an Air Services Limited Cessna 208 Grand Caravan, registered as 8R-THR, which mistakenly landed at the site of the new Lumidpau Secondary School in Region Nine on Thursday morning.
Reports indicate that the aircraft was en route to Karaudarnau in the South Rupununi when the pilot landed on the school compound—a non-designated area located close to the Lumidpau airstrip. During take-off, the plane reportedly struck and partially damaged the fence surrounding the newly constructed school. Fortunately, authorities have confirmed that no injuries were reported.
A local resident, Dan Rickson, informed reporters that the pilot appeared to be a Spanish-speaking national and may not have been familiar with the area. “The airstrip is just a short distance away from where the plane landed. It seems he didn’t realize it wasn’t the correct location,” Rickson explained.
In a statement released on Friday, the GCAA confirmed that the aircraft has been grounded and the pilot suspended pending the investigation’s outcome. Air Services Limited has also been formally notified of the inquiry.
“The GCAA is dedicated to ensuring a thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding this incident to uphold the highest standards of aviation safety,” the Authority stated.
The investigation will aim to determine how the mislanding occurred and whether any procedural or navigational errors contributed to the incident.
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