GDF Special Forces rescue pilot after Aricheng crash

Captain Bernard Singh
Captain Bernard Singh

A Special Forces Squad of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) yesterday afternoon rescued a local pilot after he crashed just after taking off from Aricheng, in Region Seven.

The Guyana Defence Force, in a statement said, the 31-member Special Forces squad, which formed the search and rescue team, managed to find Captain Bernard Singh along with debris of the Piper PA-31 aircraft in the jungle yesterday afternoon at around 2.40.

Singh was found with cuts and bruises about his body and was given a medical checkup by the medic on the team. He and the team flew out to the coast just after 4 pm, and he was taken to a medical institution for further treatment.

A part of the Piper PA-31 aircraft that crashed yesterday (GDF Photo)

A fixed-wing aircraft and a helicopter aided in the search and rescue mission.

At the time of crash, Singh was the lone occupant of the aircraft, which carried the registration number 8R-HAI belonging to Capt. Orlando Charles, who operates Domestic Airways.

The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) yesterday morning said that the crash occurred at around 7.53 am. The aircraft was destined for Ekereku Top, a statement from the GCAA said.

Following the crash, Air Traffic Services at Timehri confirmed that an emergency locator signal was received from Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking (SARSAT). The location was confirmed to be 2.71 Nautical Miles Northwest of the Aricheng aerodrome. An investigation was immediately launched by the GCAA.