Authorities probe missing aircraft from Ogle Airport

Jun 26, 2016 News

Two aircraft, with one reportedly subject to High Court litigation, were questionably flown out of the jurisdiction via the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, Ogle, early yesterday morning.

This publication was able to confirm that the two Cessna 206 Aircraft, bearing registration numbers 8R-GTP and 8R-GMP attached to Oxford Aviation, left the airport sometime around 4am.

According to reports, one of the aircraft was flown out of the country by its owner, Munidat Persaud, alias Raj Persaud, the owner of the Aviation Company who also owns and operates a flight school in the United States. Meanwhile, the other pilot was not identified.

According to a source, the aircraft were flown to Trinidad then to the island of Grenada, from where they subsequently departed for Anguilla.

It was reported one of aircraft is subject to a court injunction reportedly filed by another aviation company called Phoenix Aviation.

It is reported also, that the aircraft had allegedly collided with one of the wings of an aircraft belonging to the Phoenix fleet at Ekereku in the Cuyuni/Mazaruni region, some time ago. As a result of a disagreement between the two companies, Phoenix opted to file an injunction against the company.

Public Communications Consultant for the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, Kit Nascimento, who was contacted yesterday as the story was developing, stated that “they” (pilot(s)) entered the airport and went through screening at approximately 4 am yesterday. They told the security at screening that they were taking equipment out on to their aircraft.

Nascimento stated, also, that the aircraft was parked on the special apron which is designated for small aircraft operators. He pointed out that the aircraft then took off without informing the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Control Tower, the Customs and Immigration personnel and the government that they had intentions of leaving the country.

“None of the airport’s security protocols were breached,” Nascimento stressed that while explaining that operators attached to the facility all have access to the airport and have access passes.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, when contacted last evening said that an investigation has been launched and the foreign authorities were also notified.

“We have notified the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and all the regional airports but that’s the most we can do at the moment. My primary concern is if any of the procedures and protocols were breached on our side.”

The Minister said that the Director General of the GCCA has been advised that employees who were “around” at the time, be sent on administrative leave so that a thorough investigation can be conducted.

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News