5 fatalities

Aviation Accident: Uncontrolled Descent and Crash into the Sea Off Caracas (YV3217)

Caracas, VenezuelaTakeoff (climb)

On June 3, 2025, a Cessna 500 Citation (registration YV3217) operated by Private Venezuela was involved in an aviation accident near Caracas, Venezuela during takeoff. 5 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed into the sea off Caracas shortly after takeoff from Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar Airport, killing all five occupants. Debris was recovered over two days.

Incident Overview and Timeline of Events A few minutes after departing from Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar Airport, the aircraft was climbing toward an altitude of 7,000 feet when it entered an uncontrolled descent. The aircraft subsequently crashed into the sea off the coast of Caracas. The accident resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and the deaths of all five people on board. ## Debris Recovery and Search Operations In the afternoon following the crash, search teams located debris floating on the water surface approximately 11 kilometers north of the airport. The specific coordinates for this initial recovery were 10° 42' 14'' N 66° 59' 00'' W. Additional debris was recovered on June 5 at coordinates 10° 37' 00'' N 66° 59' 15'' W. The source does not specify the aircraft type, registration, operator, or the exact date of the initial crash.