THE Ecuadorian-registered aircraft that went missing Saturday last has been identified and seized at a local airstrip somewhere between Pirara and Moraikobai, areas located along its flight path on the way to Brazil.

So disclosed Transport Minister Robeson Benn at yesterday’s press briefing conducted in his Kingston, Georgetown office, where he added that various law-enforcement agencies, including the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), are on site conducting further examination of the aircraft and making preparation to move it to a secure location on the coast.
Minister Benn said the aircraft, HCCIK, which had been at the Ogle Airport ostensibly undergoing repairs, had departed Ogle for a destination in Boa Vista, Brazil, on Saturday, but the Guyana Civil Aviation’s Air Traffic Control classified the aircraft as missing at some time around 3.40pm on Saturday afternoon.
Unsuccessful efforts had been made well into the evening to locate the aircraft along the flight plan; and on Sunday morning, the Rescue Coordination Centre was fully activated, and continuous efforts were made to locate the aircraft.
There had been reports that the aircraft had been spotted south of Mahdia (Potaro area) on Sunday morning, and there had been some garbled description of the location of the aircraft; and there had been concerns, expressed later in the day, regarding the activities of the aircraft.
“Concerns arose since the Air Traffic Control centres vectoring outside of the aircraft into various parts of Region 8 (had been) unsuccessful in terms of identifying the aircraft on the ground,” the minister said.
No aerial search or examinations were conducted, but law enforcement authorities in the area located the aircraft on an airstrip along the intended flight plan.
Benn explained that further vectoring of the southern area along the flight plan in the Rupununi region saw the aircraft being discovered at an illegal airstrip east of Pirara, and “activities of great concern were underway”.
Benn said the liaison at the Rescue Coordination Centre informed commanders, and operations were launched which resulted in the aircraft being seized on the airstrip early yesterday morning.
He said changes had been made to the aircraft, but authorities had been advised of the new colouration, numerals and lettering on the aircraft.
“At the moment, various law enforcement agencies, including the Guyana Civil Aviation authority, are on site conducting further examination of the aircraft, and are making preparations to move the aircraft to a secure location on the coast,” Benn stated.
The suspicious landing of an Ecuadorian-registered aircraft at an illegal airstrip in Guyana’s interior region is engaging the attention of security and aviation experts.
There is still no word from the pilot, who was the only person on board until Sunday, when the aircraft was spotted at the unmarked airstrip somewhere between Pirara and Moraikobai.
The pilot is a Brazilian national whose name was given as Perriea Goncolo.
He had reported that the aircraft had developed engine problems and he was forced to land at the airstrip, but by then local security personnel had begun investigations.