GCAA intensifies probe into fatal ASL Cessna aircraft crash

The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) on Thursday confirmed that the investigation into the crashed Air Services Limited (ASL) Cessna 208 aircraft, which claimed the life of Captain Ryder Castillo, is ongoing.
Speaking with the Guyana Times, the Director General of GCAA, Lt Col (Ret’d) Egbert Field, related that while he cannot provide the specifics of the investigation, the inquiry into the circumstances that led to the crash has intensified.
He nevertheless noted that the investigation is being conducted among several agencies and has been receiving the fullest cooperation from Air Services Limited.
Field also confirmed that the wrecked aircraft remains at the scene, as several key components have been retrieved to aid in the investigation, including ledgers and the black box of the aircraft.

The Cessna 208 aircraft, with registration 8R-YAC, went down moments after departing Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), on Friday, April 10, 2026, while on a cargo shuttle flight bound for Imbaimadai, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
It was reported that the expected arrival time was 08:40h, but after the Pilot failed to report its arrival, a flight progress check was made at 08:44h. At the time, weather conditions in the area were reportedly poor, with heavy rainfall and reduced visibility. The GCAA subsequently activated protocols for a missing aircraft along the Mahdia-Imbaimadai route.
After days of trekking the rough terrain, members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Special Forces reached the crash site, and the remains of the Pilot were found within the wreckage in an advanced stage of decomposition.

The aircraft was located on a steep, forested ridge with a dense canopy, no landing zone, and unstable terrain. These conditions have significantly restricted direct helicopter access and made recovery operations complex and dangerous. Authorities had emphasised that no helicopter can safely operate directly at the location without unacceptable risk.
As a result, the recovery was conducted using established ground-based methods and controlled procedures. With a carefully planned operation, the body was extracted and transported to Imbaimadai, and then to the Eugene F Correia International Airport.
Captain Castillo, a Nicaraguan national with approximately 20 years of flying experience, was the sole occupant of the aircraft. He had been employed with ASL for eight years.