Rough patch for local aviation sector

April 14 2026

A rough few days, two recent incidents with one fatality has thrown the spotlight on the local aviation sector.

The latest occurred on Tuesday evening, just after 18:30hrs, when a Trans Guyana Airways aircraft skidded off the runway at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport after reportedly colliding with a capybara upon landing.

The Beechcraft aircraft, bearing registration 8R-GAQ, had arrived from Suriname. Up to press time, authorities have released no official details, and the condition of the pilot and any passengers remains unclear.

The incident comes just days after a tragic crash involving an aircraft operated by Air Services Limited (ASL). The Cessna single-engine plane, registration 8R-YAC, was being flown by pilot Ryder Alberto Castillo when it went down shortly after departing the Mahdia Airstrip in Region Eight.

The aircraft was reportedly en route to Imbamadai when contact was lost. Following an intensive search, the wreckage was located, and the pilot’s body was recovered on Monday, according to the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority.

Together, the two incidents have heightened concern and renewed focus on safety within the country’s aviation industry.

(Little Guyana 592 News  photo)