# Lake Atitlán helicopter crash in Guatemala

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/lake-atitln-helicopter-crash-in-guatemala
> Updated: 2026-10-11T17:35:52.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 2.

On October 8, 2026, an Airbus Helicopters EC130 crashed into Lake Atitlán near Panajachel, Guatemala, while en route to a hotel. Of the seven people on board, five were rescued alive. Two individuals, pilot Jorge Rodolfo Maldonado and passenger Pablo José Polanco Agustín, were later located and recovered from the wreckage by divers and the Guatemalan Army.

Following the accident, the Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC) initiated an investigation into potential mechanical failure or weather conditions. Local discussions have highlighted the ‘Xocomil’ wind, a natural phenomenon caused by pressure differences between the lake and surrounding mountains, which creates turbulence and poses risks to aviation in the region.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-11: Lake Atitlán helicopter crash claims lives of two pilots

Community members mourn pilots Jorge Rodolfo Maldonado and Pablo José Polanco Agustín following a helicopter crash on Lake Atitlán, amid discussions of the region's turbulent Xocomil winds.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lake-atitln-helicopter-crash-claims-lives-of-two-pilots

### 2026-10-08: Lake Atitlán helicopter crash leaves two dead in Guatemala

Two people were killed after a helicopter carrying seven passengers crashed into Lake Atitlán, Guatemala. Five survivors were rescued, and the wreckage was later located by specialized dive teams.

10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/helicopter-crash-in-lake-atitln-leaves-two-missing

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Cite as: Lake Atitlán helicopter crash in Guatemala. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/lake-atitln-helicopter-crash-in-guatemala