31 fatalities

Fatal Mountain Crash Near Poptún

Poptún, GuatemalaFlight

On February 28, 1980, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) operated by Guatemalan Air Force - Fuerza Aérea Guatemalteca was involved in an aviation accident near Poptún, Guatemala in flight. 31 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 7 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft carrying 31 people, including army officers and family members, crashed in a mountainous region approximately 65 km south of Poptún. The incident resulted in the deaths of all occupants on board.

Incident Overview

A fatal aviation accident occurred involving an airplane that had departed from Guatemala City Airport. The flight was intended to transport passengers to Poptún, where they planned to visit local Maya ruins.

Occupants and Context

The aircraft carried a total of 31 individuals, comprising 27 passengers and four crew members. According to available records, the passengers were primarily army officers accompanied by their family members. The group was traveling for leisure purposes rather than official military operations.

Crash Location and Outcome

The specific circumstances leading to the crash remain unknown. The aircraft impacted a mountainous area situated approximately 65 kilometers south of Poptún. The collision resulted in the immediate loss of all lives on board, with no survivors reported among the 31 occupants.