What happened
On the morning of the incident, an aircraft identified by the registration HK-303, a unspecified aircraft type, departed from Guatemala City Airport. The flight was reportedly intended to be a test mission bound for El Estor. Shortly after departing, the crew contacted air traffic control to express their intention to return to Guatemala City; however, no further radio communication was established following this transmission.
As the flight progressed eastward, the aircraft entered Honduran airspace without receiving the necessary clearance. During the evening hours, while operating within this unauthorized territory, the crew failed to respond to communications from air traffic controllers. During this period of silence, a fighter jet from the Honduran Air Force intercepted the plane and engaged it with gunfire.
Following the engagement, the aircraft lost control and entered a steep dive, eventually crashing into a heavily wooded and hilly region. The accident resulted in three fatalities, with no survivors reported among the crew.
Findings
Local authorities in Honduras suggested that the flight may have been engaged in an unauthorized smuggling operation. The primary factor leading to the destruction of the aircraft was the interception and shooting down by a Honduran Air Force fighter jet.