Private Aviation Event Operated Without Official Notification, Raising Safety Concerns

Aviation authorities in Bahía de Banderas were unaware of the Aerofest Nayarit Bahía 2025 event before a tragic plane crash brought it to their attention. The air festival, which took place on March 1 at the Valle de Banderas airstrip, involved multiple pilots conducting aerial maneuvers. However, local officials only learned about the gathering after a small aircraft crashed into a residential building, killing three people.

Event Held Without Official Notification

Briana Guzmán Delgado, director of Citizen Security and Transit in Bahía de Banderas, revealed that her department, along with state and federal authorities, had not been informed about the event. Guzmán Delgado, who was among the first responders at the crash scene, confirmed that no official notice had been given regarding the airshow.

“We went to gather information at the airstrip, and it appeared that there was an event with multiple aircraft performing maneuvers in the air,”* she stated. *”All three levels of government discussed whether we had been notified, and none of us could confirm it. We only found out due to this tragic incident.”

Authorities are now considering an investigation into the event’s organization. According to the event coordinators, this was the fourth edition of Aerofest Nayarit, yet it had never been officially registered with local authorities.

Fatal Crash Shocks Community

Earlier in the day, Shiomara Torres Arreola, a member of the organizing team, described the event as a “completely private gathering,”where regional pilots met to socialize and engage in flight activities, including aerobatic stunts.

However, at approximately 4:30 PM, a Cessna aircraft with registration number XB-BHE lost control and crashed into the third floor of a house on Sinaloa and Libertad streets, just 300 meters from the airstrip. The impact resulted in the deaths of the pilot and a female passenger, both of whom suffered catastrophic injuries. A third victim, a person on the ground, was also killed.

Emergency Response and Investigation Underway

The accident triggered a swift response from security forces, including the Mexican Navy, the Army, the National Guard, and local police. Officers secured the area, blocking off several streets while forensic teams from the Nayarit State Attorney General’s Office processed the scene.

Authorities confirmed that the aircraft split into two parts upon impact—one section landed on the home’s terrace, while the other fell into a nearby vacant lot. In addition to the three fatalities, three people sustained injuries.

The investigation is expected to continue into the evening, as forensic experts work to determine the exact cause of the crash. Following the accident, organizers promptly canceled the remainder of Aerofest Nayarit Bahía 2025

Growing Concerns Over Unregulated Air Shows

The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety and oversight of private aviation events in Mexico. Without proper coordination with local authorities, such gatherings pose significant risks to both participants and the public. Officials are now assessing whether additional regulations should be enforced to prevent similar tragedies in the future.