After more than 48 hours, the third victim of the plane crash in Chimaltenango is located and the search for a rescuer continues

Home News After more than 48 hours, the third victim of the plane crash in Chimaltenango is located and the search for a rescuer continues
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July 7, 2026July 7, 2026By Mario Vásquez
After more than 48 hours, the third victim of the plane crash in Chimaltenango is located and the search for a rescuer continues

He Guatemalan Army reported this Monday, July 6, that the body of the third victim of the plane crash that occurred near the Union Victoria village, San Miguel Pochuta, Chimaltenangowhere for more than 48 hours A large search and rescue operation is carried out in a mountainous area that is difficult to access.

In a statement, the Ministry of National Defense indicated that the discovery was possible thanks to the operations carried out by military personnel and the institutions that make up the Conred System. Furthermore, he confirmed that the rescuer from the Humanitarian and Rescue Brigade (BHR) who remained missing during the operation, although the rescue teams have not yet managed to reach the place due to the adverse weather conditionsthe ruggedness of the terrain and the complexity of the area, so his health status is unknown.

This is how the accident occurred

The emergency began last July 3when the aircraft Beechcraft V35 Bonanzawith registration TG-PIPtook off from La Aurora International Airport heading to a farm located in Santa Barbara, Suchitepéquez. According to the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC)the flight developed according to the established plan; However, hours later the Emergency Location Transmitter (ELT)which alerted authorities to a possible accident.

After the activation of the signal, a joint operation was launched in which the DGACthe Guatemalan Air Forcehe Guatemalan Armyrelief bodies and other institutions of the national response system.

Operational in an area with difficult access

The aircraft was later located in a mountainous area of San Miguel Pochutato some 2,500 meters above sea level, where terrain and weather conditions have made it difficult rescue efforts since the beginning of the emergency.

Personnel from the Guatemalan Army and the institutions that make up the Conred System coordinate operations to continue the search and access to the rescuer from the Humanitarian and Rescue Brigade (BHR), whose health status is still unknown. (Photo: Prensa Libre, Guatemalan Army).

During the weekend, ground brigades managed to recover the bodies of Javier Luengo Delgado and Juan José Barrerawhile this Monday the Army confirmed the location of the third victimthus concluding the search for the occupants of the aircraft.

At the same time, specialists from the Air Accident and Incident Investigation Unit (UIA) of the DGAC remain in the area to collect evidence and determine the causes of the accident.

Although the Army reported that the missing rescuer had already been located, it explained that It has not yet been possible to establish direct contact with himbecause the rescue teams have not been able to access the point where it is located.

Given this situation, the Ministry of Defense indicated that reinforced the deployment of specialized personnel to accelerate access and extraction tasks, in coordination with the institutions of the Conred System.

The institution also recognized the commitment and work of the rescuers participating in the operation and reiterated the call to the population to Be informed only through official channelswhile work continues in the accident area.

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