ASL pilot found dead after rescue team finally reaches crash site

Apr 14, 2026 News

(Kaieteur News) – “We kept our hopes alive until the last moment”, relatives said after Guyana Defence Force Special Forces found the body of the pilot in the Air Services Limited (ASL) plane crash, Ryder Alberto Castillo.

The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) broke the sad news via a press release on Monday. His body was recovered three days after the Cessna Carvan, 8R-YAC he was flying crashed in the jungle near Imbaimadai, shortly after he took off from the Mahdia Airstrip, Region 8.

ASL pilot found dead after rescue team finally reaches crash site

Dead ASL pilot, Ryder Castillo.

GCAA said that the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Special Forces were finally able to successfully reach the crash site on day three of a search and rescue operation. “The team recovered the body of the pilot and are currently making preparations for extraction from the site”, GCAA stated in the statement.

Up to press time there were no further updates on whether the team was able to extract the body from the site and transport it to the city. “The Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), and the Guyana Defence Force, join the wider aviation community in extending their heartfelt sympathies to the loved ones of the pilot,” GCAA continued while assuring that investigations into the plane crash continues.

Following the news of his death, Castillo’s loved ones expressed their grief via Facebook posts. His sister Maria Elena Castillo Aburto wrote “We kept our hopes alive until the last moment, God has His plans, I know my brother fought very hard (Guardamos las esperanzas hasta el último momento, Dios tendrá sus planes, mi hermano habrá luchado lo se”

Another relative, Alex Castillo, described him as a man with great experience. “Gracias tío por tus consejos, mis recuerdos contigo en mi niñez. Eras mi héroe de niño y lo seguirás siendo. (Thank you uncle, for your advice, my childhood memories with you. You are my hero since I was child and you will always continue to be my hero”, Alex said.

Meanwhile, other family members are calling for his employer to assist in returning his remains to Nicaragua, his homeland. Natalia Castillo wrote, “A life was lost, a human being with a family; the remains of an airplane cannot be more important than returning the body to a mother, a wife, and other relatives who want to say goodbye to him (Se perdió una vida, un ser humano con familia no pueden ser más importantes los restos de un avión que regresar el cuerpo a una madre y una esposa y demás familiares que quieren despedirse de él)”.

The ASL has not responded directly to the calls for assistance to have his body returned home but has stated that it is mourning the loss of the pilot and expressed condolences to his friends and family. Ryder was described as a dedicated and valued member of ASL’s flight crew. “Captain Castillo served the company for eight remarkable years with unwavering dedication and humility”, the company stated before adding: “he was known for his calm nature and his remarkable ability to turn every challenge into something positive.”

“His professionalism, strength, and quiet leadership earned him the respect of everyone who had the privilege of working alongside him” ASL said while describing him as genuine hardworking and one of its finest pilots who always delivered with excellence and reliability. According to ASL on the day he crashed Friday) Castillo was piloting a cargo flight from Mahdia to Imbaimadai.

Reports are that the aircraft departed Madhia at 08:10hrs with one person on board (Castillo) and was due to arrive at Imbaimadai at 08:40hrs”, but it never did. “It failed to report arrival, prompting a flight progress check at 08:44hrs,” the GCAA had said while noting that “weather in the area included heavy rainfall and reduced visibility”. A search and Rescue operation was launched the same day involving several stakeholder including medical personnel and GDF special forces but due to rough and mountainous jungle terrain with dense vegetation, the rescues were only able to successfully access the crash site on Monday.

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Air Services Limited, found dead, Pilot, plane Crash, Ryder Alberto Castillo

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