An ultralight aircraft crashed on Saturday in the Caleta Los Patos sector of Caldera commune, Atacama Region, leaving the pilot with minor injuries. Emergency teams quickly responded to assist the injured person and secure the area. The General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC) announced it will launch an investigation to determine the causes of the incident.
The accident took place on Saturday afternoon on the shore of Caleta Los Patos beach, prompting the mobilization of emergency teams including the Caldera Fire Department, the Chilean Navy, and Citizen Security personnel. According to preliminary reports, the ultralight aircraft plunged onto the sand, resulting in one injured person: the pilot, who was treated on site by rescuers.
The Chilean Navy reported that Caldera's maritime authority, along with firefighters, assisted the pilot in the Bahía Inglesa – Morro jurisdiction. “He is without serious injuries,” the institution specified. Volunteers coordinated care efforts, secured the area, and managed controls to prevent additional risks.
The pilot, the only person on board, sustained minor injuries and did not require urgent hospital transfer. No major damage to the aircraft or impacts on third parties were reported.
In response to the incident, the DGAC confirmed that “due to an aviation event affecting an Ultralight Motorized Aircraft near Caldera, the DGAC will initiate the corresponding investigation,” in accordance with established protocols. The inquiry will seek to clarify whether there were technical failures, adverse weather conditions, operational errors, or breaches of current aeronautical regulations.
Such incidents underscore the importance of regular inspections for ultralight aircraft, which operate under specific regulations in Chile. The Atacama Region, with its coastal geography, has been the scene of minor aerial emergencies in the past, though without major consequences.
