A plane has plunged to the ground after a terrifying mid-air pressure failure – leaving both pilots dead.
The private aircraft is believed to have suffered a sudden “explosive depressurisation” while flying over a mountainous region.
Pilot Carlos Moyano and co-pilot Julio César Sardán both passed out before the crash – with investigators saying they were likely incapacitated within seconds.
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The doomed flight had taken off from El Alto Airport in La Paz, Bolivia, heading for El Trompillo Airport in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
But around 30 minutes into the journey, contact was lost.
The aircraft came down in the high-altitude Cochabamba region at around 9am yesterday (13 April).
A major investigation has now been launched into the crash of the Cessna 402, registered CP-3243.
Bolivia’s General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC) says the suspected cause is the sudden loss of cabin pressure.
Early reports suggest the pilots had no time to send a Mayday or attempt an emergency descent.
Search and rescue crews later confirmed there were no survivors.
The two pilots were well-known figures in Bolivia’s aviation community, with Captain Sardán building a following on social media.
In a chilling twist, he had posted a final video just hours before take-off, showing routine pre-flight checks and smiling at the camera.
DGAC director José García said: “We are investigating why the cabin seal was breached at such a critical altitude.
“At those heights, a loss of pressure leads to immediate hypoxia, leaving the crew with mere seconds of consciousness.”
Investigators are now combing through maintenance records to see whether any previous issues with the pressurisation system were missed.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through El Alto International Airport, where a makeshift memorial has been set up, as reported by Need To Know.
Fellow aviators described the pair as “consummate professionals”, respected for their skill and dedication to mentoring younger pilots.
A preliminary report into the disaster is expected within weeks as officials continue to analyse the wreckage and recover flight data.
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