The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority is probing an incident which occurred at the Eugene F. Correia Airport on Sunday evening when a wheel of the GDF Skyvan ended up off the taxiway just after landing with President Irfaan Ali and Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley on board.

According to reports, just after the plane landed with its VIP passengers from Boa Vista, one of the wheels veered off the taxi way as the aircraft was heading towards the terminal building and ended up getting stuck in the mud to the side of the taxiway.

Emergency teams including the Fire Service rushed to the scene.

The President and the Barbadian Prime Minister and their teams were forced to exit the aircraft at the side of the runway.

They were taken to the terminal building by the Presidential fleet of vehicles.

A senior Government official said there were no injuries to anyone and the plane did not sustain any damage.

The incident is still being investigated by the Civil Aviation Authority to determine whether an error by the pilots was the cause for the mishap or whether there might have been a mechanical issue.

The plane was being commanded at the time by two seasoned senior pilots of the Guyana Defence Force.

Contacted for a comment, the Director of Safety at the GCAA said only the Director-General Egbert Field is allowed to speak to the media.

Mr. Field’s office said he was busy in meetings when efforts were made to contact him.

The Skyvan is a British 19-seat aircraft that is well liked in the aviation industry for flights to the interior region because of its ability to takeoff and land on short runways.

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