Small aircraft crashes at Issano; young pilots arrested

Three men, including two young pilots, were arrested on Sunday night after the Police found that an aircraft had crash-landed at 9 Miles airstrip, Issano in the Middle Mazaruni River. The Police also believe another aircraft crashed in the area but has not been found.

Police went to the area at about 22:20 hrs and found a red and white 206 Cessna, suspected to be a Brazilian Aircraft. It is suspected to have crashed

Two pilots – a 38 year-old from Boa Vista and a 29-year-old from Temeremo, Venezuela – were arrested along with a 35-year-old Internet technician from Manaus, Brazil.

The Police said they use Google Translator to question the men. They claimed they were heading to Suriname with another aircraft when the said aircraft developed mechanical problems.  As a result of the observation, the pilot crashed landed the aircraft at 9 Miles which caused one of the occupants to sustain a fractured right arm and minor bruises about his face. The Police said the other aircraft may have crashed but it has not been found.

“The aircraft was examined but there was no visible damage seen on it, searches were also conducted on the aircraft in the presence of the three (3) passengers on board and on their person also but nothing illegal was found.

“Further searches were conducted in the vicinity where the aircraft was found but nothing illegal was found either,” Police stated.

Police took the three men into custody and seized their personal belongings namely a cellphone; Satellite phone, Identification cards and other items.

The aircraft remains on the ground under police security.

Investigations are continuing.