More than half of GDF’s fleet deployed in MV Barima response – COI hears – INews Guyana

Half of the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) aviation fleet was deployed during operations following the distress alert involving the MV Barima, with six aircraft used between July 19 and 31, 2026, the Commission of Inquiry (COI) heard on Friday.

Captain Simon Gordon, a flight operations officer with the GDF Air Corps, testified that the Bell 407 was the only helicopter available for deployment on July 19. The aircraft transported drone operators to Hampton Court before conducting coastal reconnaissance.

“Once we get a distress [signal], we first need to confirm as much as possible where and how, essentially, if it’s not a spoof or it’s an inaccurate reading or it’s triggered before we deploy the resources,” Gordon told the inquiry.

He outlines the composition of the air corps, which includes:

•  Two SC7 Skyvan transport aircraft

•  Two Hindustan 228 aircraft

•  One Technam, light utility transport

•  One BN Islander, light utility transport

•  One Beechcraft King Air 350

•  One Cessna 208 Grand Caravan

•  Three helicopters: Bell 412, Bell 407, and Bell 429

Of the nine aircraft, six were deployed in the search and rescue mission.

Flight Operations

Gordon details the chronological sequence of events for the mission on July 19, 2026, starting from a WhatsApp briefing at 00:40 hours. The operational timeline included:

1.  01:00: Crew reported to the Eugene F. Correia International Airport.

2.  01:30: The Bell 407 was fueled and ready.

3.  01:45: A drone team was sent to Hampton Court.

4.  01:55: The Intelligence Corps sent special equipment.

5.  02:00–03:00: Aircraft departed for Hampton Court.

6.  02:59: The BN Islander  departed for a reconnaissance operation.

He explained that aircraft selection depended on the reported location, the time of the operation and the resources required. His responsibilities included coordinating flight times, passengers and cargo, while aircraft preparation was handled by the flight operations department.

Gordon also confirmed that the Air Corps transported French military personnel and specialised equipment during the response. The Bell 429 joined the operation on July 27, while questions were raised about a discrepancy between two recorded landing times, which he undertook to verify.

Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Langevine, who conducted three coastal reconnaissance missions in a Bell 407 on July 22, 24 and 25, testified that the flights were intended to search for survivors and bodies. The helicopter flew at approximately 20 to 40 feet above the shoreline, but no survivors or bodies were observed during the missions.

He further explained that he initially recorded flight timings in a personal notebook before transferring them to the official records.

The testimony forms part of the COI’s examination of the deployment of aviation resources, the conduct of aerial searches and the coordination of the response to the MV Barima tragedy.

The final report is expected to be released in six months. [DPI]

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