A small Guatemalan aircraft involved in a joint Mexico–U.S. operation to combat an outbreak of flesh-eating screwworm larvae crashed in southern Mexico on Friday, killing all three people on board, officials confirmed.

The plane went down in Chiapas, Mexico’s southernmost state, while it was in the process of releasing sterile screwworm flies — a critical method used to halt the spread of the deadly parasite threatening livestock in the region. The crash claimed the lives of two Guatemalan pilots and one Mexican crew member, according to aviation authorities.

The accident comes amid an escalating agricultural crisis sparked by a resurgence of the screwworm fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax), whose larvae burrow into the flesh of animals, often killing cattle if left untreated. The outbreak has already prompted the United States to suspend livestock imports from Mexico, raising alarm among ranchers and government officials.

Mexico and the United States have been working together in an emergency effort to contain the spread of the parasite through aerial dispersal of sterilized flies — a technique that disrupts the breeding cycle of the pest.

However, the collaborative campaign has not been without friction. The U.S. had previously criticized Mexican authorities for limiting the operation of U.S.-contracted planes to six days a week rather than seven, hampering eradication efforts. Additionally, Washington accused Mexico of imposing “substantial import duties” on critical aviation equipment and shipments of sterile flies, further straining the joint operation.

In response to the U.S. suspension of livestock imports, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum denounced the decision as “unfair” and expressed hope that the ban would be lifted soon as containment measures advance.

Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the crash. The loss of the aircraft and its crew marks a tragic setback in the ongoing fight against a pest that threatens not only Mexico’s livestock industry but also regional food security and cross-border agricultural trade. (ILKHA)