A Cessna Citation private jet with registration CP-3243 crashed in central Bolivia on April 13, 2026, killing both pilots after losing radar contact and flying in circles for two hours. The aircraft, en route from La Paz to Santa Cruz, triggered an alert in Cochabamba airspace while attempting to burn off fuel for an emergency landing.
Pilots Carlos Moyano and Julio César Sardán were the sole occupants. Defense Minister Marcelo Salinas and Public Works Minister Mauricio Zamora confirmed the fatalities following a search in central Bolivia.
The plane, owned by businessman Oscar Mario Justiniano, showed an abnormal flight pattern, circling to deplete fuel before crashing. Authorities suspect a pressurization failure as the primary cause, disrupting operations in the busy La Paz-Santa Cruz corridor.
This incident underscores vulnerabilities in high-altitude private aviation over Bolivia’s rugged terrain, where rapid response is critical. Rescue teams located the wreckage after the aircraft vanished from radar, highlighting challenges in tracking small jets in remote areas.