2 fatalities

2020-04-19: BAe 125 (N700NW) — Private United States of America — La Libertad, Guatemala

La Libertad, GuatemalaFlight

On April 19, 2020, a BAe 125 (registration N700NW) operated by Private United States of America was involved in an aviation accident near La Libertad, Guatemala in flight. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft was engaged in an illegal narcotics transport mission at the time of the crash. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781190500Data APIEditorial standards

A flight crashed in a wooded area near La Libertad, resulting in the deaths of both crew members and the discovery of illegal narcotics.

What happened

A flight ended in a crash within a forested region situated near La Libertad. The impact of the crash, followed by a subsequent fire, resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. There were two fatalities among the crew, as both pilots perished in the accident.

Following the incident, Guatemalan authorities conducted an investigation at the wreckage site. During the recovery operations, officials discovered a large quantity of narcotics, specifically 762 kilos of cocaine, inside the wreckage.

Findings

Authorities have indicated that the aircraft was likely involved in a contraband mission at the time of the accident. The investigation noted that the destruction of the airframe was caused by both the initial impact forces and the fire that ignited after the crash.

Probable cause

The aircraft was engaged in an illegal narcotics transport mission at the time of the crash.