The Guyana Defence Force has mobilised special forces ranks and medical personnel following the discovery of a suspected crash site belonging to a missing Air Services Limited aircraft that disappeared Friday morning while flying between Mahdia and Imbaimadai.
The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that the Cessna 208, bearing registration number 8R-YAC and operated by Air Services Limited, departed Mahdia at approximately 08:10 hours with one person on board. The aircraft was expected to arrive at Imbaimadai by 08:40 hours but failed to report its arrival, raising immediate concern.
A flight progress check was initiated at 08:44 hours after communication could not be established. At the time, the area was experiencing heavy rainfall and significantly reduced visibility, conditions which authorities believe may have impacted the flight.
Subsequent search efforts led to the visual identification of a suspected crash site, confirmed by two Trans Guyana Airways Cessna Caravans and a Britten-Norman Islander aircraft that had joined the search operation.
In response, the GDF has deployed a rescue team comprising special forces personnel and medical staff to the location. The pilot — the sole occupant of the aircraft — has been identified as Captain Ryder Castello, a Nicaraguan national with approximately two decades of flying experience, including around ten years with ASL.
Authorities have cautioned that the situation remains active and all details are preliminary pending on-site verification.
This is a developing story. Further updates will be provided as the situation unfolds.
