HGP Nightly News – The body of the pilot involved in the Air Services Limited aircraft crash has been recovered by the Guyana Defence Force Special Forces, in a development that brings a tragic end to the search and rescue operation in the remote Mazaruni region.
The recovery was made just before 10:00 hrs on Monday after rescue teams managed to reach the crash site despite difficult and dangerous terrain.
The pilot has been identified as Captain Ryder Castillo, a Nicaraguan national. Sources confirmed that his body was found within the wreckage after the Special Forces team successfully accessed the area, which reportedly included a large boulder field and other challenging conditions.
The recovery marks a sombre turning point in the incident, which had triggered an emergency response after the aircraft went missing.
Sources also indicated that while the pilot’s body has been recovered, search activity in the surrounding area is continuing as authorities work to secure the crash site and coordinate the extraction process.
The remoteness of the location and the terrain are understood to have made the operation especially difficult for the teams involved.
With the recovery now completed, focus is shifting to the investigation into what caused the aircraft to crash. The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority has already launched a probe as officials begin examining the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The crash has once again highlighted the risks associated with aviation operations in Guyana’s interior, where access and rescue efforts can be severely complicated by geography and weather.
