Small plane crashes on Santa Isabel-Anáhuac stretch of highway, Chihuahua; pilot and co-pilot die

ÁNAHUAC, CHIH.- A small plane crashed this Saturday on the Santa Isabel-Ánahuac highway in the state of Chihuahua, killing its two occupants. The accident caused alarm among nearby communities due to the plume of smoke and the disruption to the power supply.

According to initial official reports, the aircraft, registration XB-HPJ, apparently clipped high-voltage power lines, triggering the crash. The deceased were identified as Armando Schmitt, the pilot, and Jesús Andrés Leyva, the co-pilot, who died instantly upon impact.

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The landslide occurred near kilometer 2 of the aforementioned highway section and caused a power outage in various surrounding areas , which complicated the arrival of emergency services and alarmed the residents.

Elements of the Ministerial, State, and Municipal Police, along with personnel from the Mexican Army, arrived at the scene to cordon off the area and assist with the investigation. The aeronautical authority initiated the corresponding technical procedures , but no official conclusion has yet been issued.

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Local authorities reported that the investigation will include a review of weather conditions, the aircraft's condition, and the flight path prior to the crash. The leading hypothesis remains that the aircraft struck a high-voltage power line.

A small plane crashed on the Santa Isabel–Anáhuac highway in Chihuahua. Two people died. #JLMNoticias #JoséLuisMorales #Aguascalientes #Ags #NiMásNIMenos pic.twitter.com/5fN3aQSQi8

— José Luis Morales (@JLMNoticias) November 2, 2025

The incident has once again brought into focus the flights of light aircraft in rural areas of Mexico and the risks associated with laying power lines in remote areas. Residents of Santa Isabel and Anáhuac report hearing the loud noise from several kilometers away.

Technicians from the power company are working in the area to restore service, while authorities maintain a security perimeter around the impact site to preserve potential evidence and prevent onlookers from entering and hindering the investigation. (Information from El Universal)