Six Guyana Defence Force (GDF) aircraft were deployed in the response to the MV Barima distress alert between July 19 and 31, 2026, the Commission of Inquiry heard on Friday.
Giving evidence, GDF Air Corps Flight Operations Officer, Captain Simon Gordon, said the Bell 407 was the only helicopter available for deployment on July 19. It transported drone operators to Hampton Court and also conducted coastal reconnaissance.
Gordon told the Commission that the information accompanying a distress alert must first be assessed to guide the deployment of resources.
“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,” he said.
According to his account, a WhatsApp briefing was received at 00:40 hours, with the crew reporting to the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at 01:00 hours. The Bell 407 was fuelled and ready by 01:30 hours, while a BN Islander departed on reconnaissance at 02:59 hours.
He explained that the choice of aircraft depended on the reported location, the time of the operation and the resources needed. The Air Corps also transported French military personnel and specialised equipment, while the Bell 429 joined the response on July 27.
Questioned about conflicting landing times in the records, Gordon undertook to verify the discrepancy.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Langevine testified that he conducted three coastal searches in the Bell 407 on July 22, 24 and 25.
Those flights, he said, were aimed at locating survivors and bodies. Despite flying approximately 20 to 40 feet above the shoreline, none was sighted during the three missions.
Langevine also told the Commission that he initially noted flight times in a personal notebook before entering them into the official records.
The inquiry is examining the response to the MV Barima tragedy, including the coordination and deployment of aviation resources. Its final report is expected in six months.
