The aviation fraternity turned out in their numbers to bid farewell to Captain Imran Khan at the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG) Woolford Avenue annex, earlier today (Wednesday). A public viewing was held at the CIOG and the body was later flown to Hampton Court on the Essequibo Coast where Captain Khan was buried according to Islamic rites.
The 41-year-old pilot, a resident of the Essequibo Coast, Region 2, had been attached to Air Services Limited (ASL), and had been flying from Chi-Chi to Mahdia when the Cessna 206 (8R-GFM) aircraft went down on Sunday.
Flying solo, Captain Khan had reportedly been expected to arrive at Mahdia at 08:47h, but had been a ‘no show’. An emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal that was emitted from the crashed aircraft and picked up at 09:08h, was identified as coming from an area west of Mahdia.
A rescue operation involving the Guyana Defence Force’s 31 Special Forces Squadron was immediately mounted, but because of the mountainous terrain, search-and-rescue (SAR) operators had to trek to the crash site, where they found the lifeless body of Captain Khan.
Preliminary reports suggest that the aircraft may have crashed into a mountain before diving into the heavy jungle.
The aircraft was badly mangled, and it is believed that Captain Khan may have been pitched from the plane following the impact. (Photos by Carl Croker)
