The final report of the Commission of Inquiry into the discovery of the foreign aircraft at Yupukari, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), which was due on November 16 will now be handed over to President David Granger on November 25.
The foreign aircraft that was found at Yupukari, Region Nine
The Head of State granted the approval of the extension following a request by head of the commission Brigadier retired Edward Collins.
Collins was commissioned to investigate, examine, advise and report on the circumstances under which the foreign aircraft, discovered on September 13, 2016, entered the country.
Concurrent to the CoI, a Joint Services team, headed by Superintendent Hugh Denheart of the Guyana Police Force, is conducting investigations and will pursue and probe the areas beyond the scope of the Terms of Reference of the Commission.
The aircraft bearing registration number N767Z, was first brought to the attention of officials on Tuesday, September 13, by a resident of the area.
The following day, a joint Army, CANU, and Police team was dispatched to the location to conduct investigations. One week later, the government announced that a CoI would be set up to probe the discovery of the aircraft in Guyana’s territory.
Meanwhile, investigators had discovered during interviews with nearby residents that the aircraft had been sighted circling the area on numerous occasions in the past.
Additionally, a number of residents shared information they deemed as “suspicious activity”, including the presence of motorcycles or ATVs frequenting the area at midnight.
It was later revealed that the plane originated from Colombia and may have been in Guyana a month prior to its discovery.
Colombia is known as a major producer of cocaine, with Guyana being a trans-shipment point to the US and Europe.
It was further reported that a leak was discovered in the fuel tank thus investigators believed that this may have caused the aircraft to land in Guyana.
The aircraft was repaired and flown to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, and is currently secured at the GDF Air Corps Hangar, Air Station London.
