Aircraft runs off Mabaruma runway

Sep 18, 2026 News

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…no injuries reported, GCAA launches probe 

(Kaieteur News) – The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has launched an investigation after an aircraft veered off the runway at Mabaruma, Region One, on Thursday morning, marking another aviation incident in a year that has already seen several mishaps, one fatal, involving aircraft across the country.

The incident occurred at approximately 08:15 hrs., with preliminary reports indicating that the aircraft experienced a runway excursion. No injuries were reported. The GCAA said its Accident and Investigation Team has been dispatched to Mabaruma to conduct a thorough assessment and determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

One passenger who was onboard, Jason Chacon in a Facebook post said he is grateful that all the passengers made it out safe. “It was an experience that will surely change my life,” he said while adding that he felt very scared traveling on the river so before boarding the plane on Thursday morning he prayed for a safe flight.  “Thank-you father for hearing and allowing me to see a new day,” he wrote noting that that a major lesson he has learnt following the incident is to “pray every day”.

The latest occurrence adds to a series of aviation incidents reported in Guyana this year.

On February 26, two separate incidents involving Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft were reported at Mathews Ridge, Region One, within minutes of each other. The first, at about 07:55 hrs., involved Jags Aviation’s Cessna 208 Caravan, registration 8R-KAB. Preliminary findings indicated that the aircraft sustained a punctured left landing-gear tyre while manoeuvring in the parking area.

At approximately 08:15 hrs., an Air Services Limited (ASL) Cessna 208 Caravan, registration 8R-GCB, landed on the prepared surface but overran onto an unprepared surface, resulting in a punctured left landing-gear tyre. No injuries or significant aircraft damage were reported in either incident. At the time, the GCAA issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) advising pilots to exercise heightened caution when approaching, landing and taking off from the Mathews Ridge runway, which was undergoing upgrades. The NOTAMs are made available to pilots during pre-flight preparations to alert them of potential operational hazards.

On April 11, another incident involving a Cessna 208, registration 8R-YAC, resulted in the death Air Services Limited (ASL) pilot Ryder Alberto Castillo- a Honduras national. Reports were 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 three days later. The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Special Forces recovered the body of the pilot on April 13.

Then, on May 31, a US-registered single-engine Cessna 182 Skylane, registration N9347G, belonging to Domestic Airlines, crashed at Aricheng. With another aircraft incident now under investigation, attention is again being drawn to the safety of Guyana’s aviation sector, particularly operations involving remote airstrips and challenging weather and runway conditions.

An International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) safety audit back in 2024 stated that Guyana scored 66.36%, the GCAA had said. It noted back then that the ICAO audited Guyana from May 29, 2024, to June 11, 2024, under the Universal Safety Oversight Audit-Continuous Monitoring Approach (USOAP-CMA) Programme. The preliminary results revealed that Guyana achieved an overall score of 66.36% in the effective implementation of the ICAO standards.  The GCAA had said that Guyana’s performance surpassed its 2007 ICAO audit, and the last four audits conducted by the ICAO within the South American region. “This is a commendable achievement for our nation”, the release said.

The GCAA said that the “audit was robust and comprehensive and covered the Convention on International Civil Aviation and the safety-related provisions of its Annexes in the following eight (8) areas: legislation, organisation, personnel licensing, aircraft operations, airworthiness of aircraft, aircraft accident and incident investigation, air navigation services and aerodromes and ground aids”.

With the exception of aircraft accidents and incident investigations, the GCAA said back then that each audit area was assessed using eight  critical elements: primary aviation legislation; specific operating regulations; state system and functions; qualified technical personnel; technical guidance, tools and provision of safety-critical information; licensing, certification, authorization and/or approval obligations; surveillance obligations; and resolution of safety issues.

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• Cessna 208 Caravan, GCAA, Mabaruma Runway, Trans Guyana Airways

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