The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has suspended two air traffic controllers and initiated a formal investigation following a significant aviation incident earlier this month. Two international flights violated mandatory separation protocols while traversing Guyanese airspace, creating a potentially hazardous situation.
According to Aviation Minister Deodat Indar, the incident occurred when the mandated 10-mile safety buffer between aircraft was compromised, shrinking to approximately five miles. The event was logged around 1 AM on February 16, 2026, and involved United Airlines Flight UAL860, traveling from São Paulo, Brazil to Washington D.C. at 34,000 feet, and Turpial Airlines Flight VTU9905, en route from Guyana to Venezuela while climbing to 36,000 feet. Data from open-source aircraft tracking services confirmed the proximity alert.
Minister Indar emphasized that despite the breach, neither aircraft declared an emergency nor was there any risk of collision. Modern commercial aircraft of this type typically cruise at speeds between 8-9 miles per minute, making precise separation critical. The minister expressed particular concern about publicizing the event, noting that Guyana’s aviation authorities had recently earned significant praise for their management standards. The suspended controllers have been removed from active duty pending the investigation’s outcome, which aims to determine the root cause of the procedural failure.