UPDATE: Helicopter crash claims lives of five Guyana Defence Force members

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has confirmed the loss of five service members following a helicopter crash on Wednesday.

The incident occurred in the Arau village, located near the border of Guyana and Venezuela.

Reports are that two young soldiers survived the crash.

No Venezuelan connection in helicopter disappearance says GDF Chief

Locating the missing helicopter

The GDF revealed that the crash occurred during the second day of an intensive search and rescue operation to locate the helicopter which went missing at about 11:20 Wednesday morning.

A special forces team was dispatched to the site at approximately 2:30 on Thursday afternoon.

The individuals aboard the helicopter were identified as Lieutenant Colonel Michael Charles, Retired Brigadier Gary Beaton, Lieutenant Colonel Sean Welcome, Lieutenant Andio Michael Crawford, Sergeant Jason Khan, Corporal Dwayne Jackson, and Colonel Michael Shahoud

GDF has ordered all its flags to be flown at half-mast following the confirmed deaths.

Brigadier Omar Khan, Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), clarified in a recent media conference that there is no evidence indicating Venezuelan aircraft involvement in the disappearance of a GDF helicopter.

An investigation into the crash is underway.