Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Director Zulficar Mohammed on Sunday confirmed that the Cessna 206 aircraft that crashed during takeoff at the Ogle International Airport (OIA) on Saturday has been removed from the site and is being stored at the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) hangar.
He said the aircraft was examined by GCAA officials on Saturday, but it is too early to disclose what might have been the reason for the crash.
The plane, he noted, will again be inspected and once all the questions would have been answered, a report will be made known to the public. As of now, with the little information at their disposal, no pronouncement will be made as to who have erred.
Investigators
Mohammed said his team of investigators will meet with the pilot of the aircraft as they have not had the opportunity to speak with him.
Guyana Times International understands that the Cessna 206 registered to Fenix Airlines was given clearance by the OAI control tower to take off, but failed in its bid.
This publication was also told that investigators are exploring the possibility that the aircraft might have been overladen when it took off.
According to the airline’s Administration and Finance Manager Eddie Soolal, the pilot Raul Seecharran and passenger Zorena Alli were discharged from the Dr Balwant Singh Hospital, and pregnant Shenika Munroe remains a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Soolal added that the company is making sure that the patient received the best medical attention, pointing out that her health has not deteriorated.
Compensation
The official added that the company has not decided on compensation just yet, reiterating that the passengers involved did not receive serious injuries.
However, he noted that with the aircraft now down, the company’s services to the interior will be affected.
He also confirmed that the aircraft was fully insured by an insurance company in England and is also covered by Caricom Insurance Company in Guyana.
Soolal said once the local insurance company investigates and sends its findings to the overseas company, it will in turn refund the airline.
The finance manager also told GTI that he did not speak with the pilot to get a firsthand insight as to what might have gone wrong.
“He was hospitalised so we didn’t want to push the issue… we know that he is traumatised.”
The accident occurred about 09:30h while the aircraft, with registration number 8-RMML, was taking off from the western end of the runway.
Soon after takeoff, the vehicle landed obliquely opposite the control tower, veered off the runway, flipped and ended up on its back.
This is the first plane crash for 2014, but the GCAA has been conducting investigations into a number of mishaps during 2013.
