Surviving GDF officers of helicopter crash to be honoured – Min Manickchand affirms

Underscoring the commitment and dedication of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) officers, Minister of Education Priya Manickchand reaffirmed that the survivors of last Wednesday’s helicopter crash will be honoured.
Minister Manickchand made these remarks during the 69th Sitting of the National Assembly, stating, “I think it’s important for all listening to know that the two survivors are being treated as our precious resource and they are going to be honoured in their name.”
She said the Government is allowing the survivors to choose how they would like to be honoured.
On Sunday, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali asserted that all those who were on the flight will be rightfully honoured for their diligence and sacrifices for the safety and security of Guyana.
Lieutenant Andio Crawford, as a result of the crash, suffered pneumomediastinum (a minor amount of free air between the lungs), and bruises on his shin. However, Crawford can move unaided and remains fully conscious, oriented, and coherent.
Corporal Dwayne Jackson suffered a broken right 4th rib, pneumonia, and second-degree burns on his buttocks.
In that accident, five senior servicemen lost their lives. They are Lieutenant Colonel, Michael Charles, Colonel Michael Shahoud, Retired Brigadier Gary Beaton, Lieutenant Colonel Sean Welcome and Staff Sergeant Jason Khan.
The chopper departed Base Camp Ayanganna at 09:23 hours on Wednesday last for Arau, carrying three crew members and four passengers.
At 11:20h, the aircraft transmitted an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) approximately 30 miles east of Arau on Guyana’s western borders.
The aircraft landed at Olive Creek to refuel and shortly after its take-off, communication was lost.
The ELT signal was received by the Air Traffic Services at Timehri Control Tower, and the sky van was subsequently prepped for a search and rescue operation, with a team from the Special Forces and the support of an Omni-helicopter.
The team was on a command mission to visit and supply rations to the troops in the border communities of Arau, Eteringbang, and Makapa.
Only recently, it was announced that the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) have taken charge of the inquiry into the devastating helicopter crash.
Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Chief of Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan during a press conference on Saturday at Base Camp Ayanganna, Georgetown, said the investigation has entered a new phase outside the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) jurisdiction.
“We have now entered the investigation phase, and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority and the Guyana Police Force will be conducting their inquiry,” Brigadier Khan said.
Brigadier Khan emphasised the necessity for official investigations and disclosed that both external entities and the GDF itself, through a Board of Inquiry, would conduct reviews. He expressed a commitment to transparency, stating, “As much as you are concerned, the GDF is concerned. We don’t want something like this to happen again.”
Air Corps Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Mohinder Ramjag has reported that the Bell 412 helicopter, with registration 8R-AYA, suffered significant damage, particularly in the fuselage, with only a few remaining pieces.