Latest update April 17th, 2025 9:50 AM
CGX plane search yields no results for missing ASL craft
Data collected from the CGX Energy Inc. aircraft which was hoped to provide information leading to the missing Air Services Limited (ASL) aircraft has turned up empty. According to rescue coordinators searching for the Britten Norman Islander that went missing with 27-year-old Pilot Nicky Persuad and 51-cargo handler David Bisnauth, nothing “tangible” was recovered from the search.
Missing pilot Nicky Persaud
ASL Director Annette Arjoon-Martins who has been integrally involved in search coordination efforts said that the search for the missing craft has still yielded no results. The CGX aircraft, she said, provided some information, but nothing that could lead to the recovery of the craft.
However, the data gathered has been used to zero in on an area that rescuers had already been focusing on.
In the meantime, ground and aerial searches are continuing. Members of the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) which is based at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) had hoped that the data collected from the special aircraft belonging to CGX Energy Inc. would provide information to help locate the Air Services Limited (ASL) Britten Norman Islander.
Search-and-rescue teams are still traversing the Mahdia Potaro/Siparuni Region Eight location for the missing ASL crew. Contact was lost with the men minutes after their aircraft left Mahdia to go to Karisparu with construction material.
Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Zulphicar Mohamed had told Kaieteur News that the CGX craft was employed in the search for the missing plane. He said the plane is designed to detect large masses of metal.
Trials were conducted at the Ogle International Airport before the plane was sent out to search areas of interest. It was tested to see if the plane would have picked up imagery (metal mass) similar to the missing craft. It was then deployed to search areas where information was collected.
The plane conducted searches on Monday and the data was later analysed.
Numerous rescuers, including volunteers, are involved in the search for the missing ASL plane. The RCC comprises several agencies including the Guyana Defence Force’s Special Forces, GCAA and CJIA. Bad weather has been an issue for rescuers, along with the densely-forested and mountainous area where search efforts are continuing.
It’s almost two weeks since the aircraft and its cargo went missing and everyday searches are being conducted in the interior location. While it was not disclosed, much finance and man power is being put into the search.
Minister of Transport, Robeson Benn, and others involved in the search have agreed however that those efforts will continue as long as resources permit.
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