A Cessna 550 Citation Bravo crashed in central Bolivia on April 13 after losing contact with air traffic control shortly after departure, with both pilots on board confirmed dead.
The aircraft, registered CP-3243, had taken off from La Paz-El Alto Airport at 08:19 local time bound for Santa Cruz-El Trompillo Airport. According to Bolivia’s Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC), communication with controllers was lost roughly 30 minutes into the flight.
Flight tracking data indicates the jet then entered an unusual holding pattern at high altitude, performing repeated circular orbits north of Cochabamba. The aircraft remained in this pattern for an extended period before descending rapidly and disappearing from radar at around 10:57.
Authorities later located the wreckage in a densely forested area approximately 115 kilometers northeast of Cochabamba, confirming that the aircraft had crashed. Both occupants — identified as pilot Carlos Moyano and co-pilot Julio Sardán — were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.
Initial information from Bolivian officials suggests a possible loss of cabin pressurization as one of the working hypotheses. Such a scenario could incapacitate the crew while the aircraft continues flying under autopilot, a situation often referred to in aviation as a “ghost flight.” However, no official cause has been established.
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The DGAC said emergency protocols were activated immediately after contact was lost, and search operations involved both aircraft and helicopters. Following the discovery of the crash site, Bolivia’s accident investigation unit (AIG) formally opened an inquiry to determine the cause.
The aircraft, manufactured in 2006 and powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW530A engines, was operating as a private flight with only the two crew members on board.
The case has drawn attention due to the flight profile recorded before the crash, particularly the prolonged high-altitude circling followed by a steep descent, which investigators will analyze alongside cockpit systems, pressurization performance and operational factors.
