ASL aircraft runs off Mahdia airstrip, 5 passengers, pilot escape unhurt

An aircraft with six people on board veered off the runway at the Mahdia Airstrip in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) on Sunday in the latest incident involving a hinterland aerodrome in Guyana.

Police in Regional Division #8 are investigating the incident, which occurred at the Mahdia airstrip after the aircraft, carrying five passengers and a pilot, had landed.
According to preliminary information from the police, the aircraft veered off the runway and eventually came to a halt on the eastern side of the airstrip.
No injuries were reported.
Police also said no cargo was lost or damaged, while the aircraft reportedly sustained minor damage to its wheels.
Ranks from the Regional Division visited the scene and obtained statements from persons as investigations continued.
The cause of the incident has not been established publicly, and further enquiries are ongoing.
The Mahdia occurrence comes against the backdrop of several recent aircraft incidents at Guyana’s hinterland airstrips.

Hinterland incidents
The incident occurred just days after a Trans Guyana Airways (TGA) Cessna Caravan aircraft ran off the runway at Mabaruma in Region One following an animal incursion.
On September 17, the TGA aircraft, registered 8R-GCC, experienced a runway excursion while landing at Mabaruma. The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) subsequently launched an investigation and dispatched its Accident and Investigation Team to the site.
TGA later stated that its pilot had been forced to take evasive action after an animal entered the aircraft’s path during landing. The airline said the incident caused considerable damage to the aircraft and endangered passenger safety.
The Mabaruma incident also prompted concerns from aviation operators about the frequency of animals and people entering the operating areas of hinterland aerodromes.
The Aviation Operators’ Association of Guyana (AOAG) subsequently called for stronger runway inspections, perimeter security, wildlife-control measures and mechanisms for reporting and responding to hazards.
The association said animals or other obstructions appearing on a runway during take-off or landing could leave pilots with only seconds to react, potentially requiring emergency braking, a rejected take-off, a go-around or evasive manoeuvres.

Runway incursions
The latest Mahdia incident also comes as the GCAA has warned about what it described as an increasing frequency of animals crossing aerodrome runways across Guyana.
The authority said deliberate or negligent release of animals onto aerodrome property poses a direct threat to passengers, flight crews and aircraft.
The GCAA further warned that persons responsible for compromising aviation safety could face prosecution under the Civil Aviation Act 2018.
Section 83(1) of the legislation provides that a person who trespasses on land forming part of an aerodrome, or causes an animal to trespass on such land, commits an offence. A person convicted summarily can face a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for six months.
The authority has urged members of the public to treat aerodromes as safety-critical infrastructure and to report suspicious activity or threats to aviation operations.

Other incidents
The Mabaruma occurrence was not the only recent incident involving a hinterland airstrip.
Last month, an Air Services Limited Cessna Caravan, registration 8R-GZR, skidded off the Baramita Airstrip, North West District and became stuck in mud. The pilot and passengers were evacuated, with no injuries reported.
In April, another TGA aircraft was damaged after reportedly striking a capybara while landing at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at Ogle. The aircraft, a Beechcraft 1900 registered 8R-GAQ, reportedly suffered substantial damage and veered off the runway following the impact.
TGA has also previously raised concerns with the GCAA about wildlife hazards at interior airstrips. The airline said it had reported an increase in vultures congregating on and around the Mabaruma runway, with flight crews recording bird strikes and at least one missed approach after vultures were observed on the runway.
The AOAG has similarly maintained that protecting hinterland aerodromes requires cooperation among communities, aerodrome operators, aircraft operators and regulators.