Inquiry launched into unofficial departure of aircraft from Eugene F. Correia Airport

Georgetown GINA

An inquiry has been launched into the unofficial departure of two aircraft from the Eugene F. Correia (Ogle) International Airport, Minister of State Joseph Harmon said today at a post-cabinet press briefing.

Minister Harmon said that cabinet has been advised by Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, that an inquiry has been launched to ensure that this situation does not reoccur, given that the Eugene F. Correia airport is an international one.

“We trust that we will able able to get that report in a very short time because there is a very serious matter in relation to security and the fact that the airport is an international one, we have to ensure that our security procedures are tightened,” Minister Harmon explained.

According to Harmon, cabinet was informed that the inquiry would look at what happened, when it happened, who was involved and what decisions need to be taken with respect to ensuring that it does not happen again.

The owner of Oxford Airways, Munidat Persaud along with an accomplice flew out the Cessna 206 planes on June 25, 2016 without customs, immigration or air traffic approval. After flying through Trinidad and Tobago airspace, they landed on Grenada and Anguilla. Anguillan authorities then only gave approval for one of the planes to leave for San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The management of the Eugene F. Correia (Ogle) International Airport has since confirmed that the planes left without the required approvals.