GCAA launches probe after aircraft mistakenly lands near Region Nine school

The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has launched an investigation into an aircraft incident involving an Air Services Limited Cessna 208 Grand Caravan, registered as 8R-THR, which mistakenly landed at the site of the new Lumidpau Secondary School in Region Nine on Thursday morning.

According to reports, the aircraft was en route to Karaudarnau in the South Rupununi when the pilot landed at the school compound — a non-designated area located a short distance from the Lumidpau airstrip. During take-off, the plane reportedly struck and partially damaged the fence surrounding the newly constructed school.

Authorities have confirmed that no one was injured during the incident.

A resident, Dan Rickson, told reporters that the pilot appeared to be a Spanish-speaking national and may not have been familiar with the area. “The airstrip is just a short distance away from where the plane landed. It seems he didn’t realise it wasn’t the correct location,” Rickson explained.

In a statement on Friday, the GCAA said the aircraft has since been grounded and the pilot suspended pending the outcome of the investigation. Air Services Limited has also been formally notified of the probe.

“The GCAA is dedicated to ensuring a thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding this incident to uphold the highest standards of aviation safety,” the Authority noted.

The investigation will seek to determine how the mislanding occurred and whether any procedural or navigational errors contributed to the incident.