Panajachel, Guatemala: Five people were rescued and two remained missing after an Airbus Helicopters H130 plunged into Lake Atitlán in Guatemala on October 8, 2026 during a flight from La Aurora International Airport to a hotel near the lake, prompting a search operation involving the Guatemalan Army, police, firefighters and specialist divers.
The helicopter, identified by Guatemala’s Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC) as an Airbus Helicopters EC 30 (H130), registration TG-GUH, departed La Aurora International Airport at 12:11 p.m. local time with seven people aboard, including the pilot. The flight was expected to take approximately 30 minutes, with the aircraft heading towards a hotel helipad on the northern side of Lake Atitlán, in the department of Sololá.
According to the DGAC’s preliminary information, the accident occurred between 12:35 p.m. and 12:48 p.m. local time. Guatemala’s National Civil Police (PNC) subsequently placed the crash at approximately 12:45 p.m., in front of a private hotel beach in the San Buenaventura estate area of Panajachel.
The aircraft entered the water and subsequently submerged. Videos published by local media showed the helicopter descending towards the lake before striking the water and disappearing beneath the surface. The footage documented the sequence of events but did not establish what caused the aircraft to lose control or descend into the lake.
The five survivors were identified in subsequent reporting by Prensa Libre as Andrea Lozano Ardón de Sittenfeld, Diego Díaz, César Enrique Morales Catú, Caterin Victoria Chay Carrillo and Sandra Natali Santizo Romero.
The five rescued occupants did not require medical treatment and were staying at the hotel. The later police report provided the updated information on the survivors.
The two people still missing were identified as pilot Jorge Rodolfo Maldonado and passenger Pablo José Polanco Agustín. According to the police report cited by Prensa Libre, both were believed to be trapped inside the submerged helicopter.
The passengers were reportedly travelling to attend a training session at Hotel Atitlán. The activity was suspended following the accident.
The Army said its personnel coordinated with the Volunteer Firefighters to deploy specialist divers after receiving preliminary information that people might remain inside the submerged aircraft.
In a statement reproduced by the government’s Agencia Guatemalteca de Noticias (AGN), the Army said: “Given the preliminary information about possible occupants still inside the submerged aircraft, coordination was established with the Volunteer Firefighters to deploy specialised divers and continue search-and-rescue operations.”
According to the reports, the helicopter could be at a depth of between 200 and 300 metres, while the equipment available to the rescue teams was reportedly capable of reaching approximately 100 metres. The reported depth created a significant challenge for divers attempting to locate the missing occupants.
Volunteer Firefighters also reported that certified divers were conducting underwater searches, supported by technology, to locate the two missing people. Local boat operators assisted the operation.
Records from flight-tracking platform Flightradar24, reviewed by Prensa Libre, showed that helicopter TG-GUH had completed two earlier flights on the morning of October 8 before departing for Lake Atitlán.
The first recorded flight began at 9:18 a.m. and ended at 9:33 a.m., travelling between La Aurora International Airport and Antigua Guatemala. The aircraft subsequently departed La Aurora at 11:41 a.m. and returned at 11:54 a.m., according to the published tracking records.
The helicopter then departed La Aurora for Lake Atitlán at 12:11 p.m. The final available tracking record showed approximately 18 minutes and 32 seconds of flight time and an altitude of around 5,150 feet before the aircraft’s track ended over the lake.
The tracking information establishes the aircraft’s reported position and altitude but does not explain the circumstances leading to the crash. No confirmed mechanical failure, sudden loss of altitude or other technical malfunction had been identified in the reports reviewed.
The aircraft’s operating company was described by Infobae as a private operator, but the company’s name was not provided. No verified operator identification was available in the cited reports.
Authorities had not established why the helicopter crashed as of the latest reports reviewed for this article. Although heavy rain was reported in the area, officials had not confirmed that weather contributed to the accident.
The available video footage showed the helicopter descending towards the lake before impact, but it does not independently establish whether the aircraft experienced a technical problem, adverse weather effects, a loss of control or another event.
The DGAC’s preliminary information established the aircraft’s identity, departure time, destination and the number of people aboard. No final accident-investigation findings or confirmed cause had been reported. The circumstances of the crash therefore remain subject to further investigation.
