Those confirmed dead are Colonel Michael Shahoud, Lieutenant Colonel Sean Welcome, Sergeant Jason Khan, Retired Brigadier Gary Beaton and veteran pilot Lieutenant Colonel Michael Charles.
The two survivors are Lieutenant Andio Crawford and Corporal Dwayne Jackson
The Bell 412 helicopter went missing at 11:20 hours yesterday, Wednesday December 6 and the Guyana Defence Force embarked on a search and rescue operation after the ELT signal was triggered. The missing aircraft which is one of the two new Bell aircrafts recently acquired by the Guyana Defence Force was part of a command mission to visit troops stationed on Guyana’s western border.
Search and rescue operations which began on Wednesday resumed today, Thursday December 7, due to inclement weather in the area. The crash site where the aircraft went down was identified earlier today but reports indicated that inclement weather prevented the team from accessing the crash site at that time
The Guyana Defence Force in a press release stated that “a special forces team was inserted into the area and arrived at the crash site at approximately 14:30 hours this afternoon”. The team reported shortly after that there were only two survivors.
The GDF stated that “it is committed to providing unwavering support” to family members during their time of grief and the officers served their country with distinction . The Ministry of Home Affairs has informed the public that The Golden Arrowhead and National Institution flags are to be flown at half-mast.