Central Bank Cargo Plane Runs Off Cuenca Runway, 2 Safe
ECUADOR · ECONOMY
Key Facts
- —The country Ecuador uses the US dollar as its official currency.
- —What happened A light plane left the Cuenca airport runway on Thursday, 8 October.
- —The cargo It carried central bank valuables on the Guayaquil–Cuenca route.
- —The people Both people on board survived; the bank says the crew is safe.
- —The bank’s word The valuables are intact, insured and in custody, the bank says.
- —Still open The cause, the type of cargo and its value are undisclosed.
Ecuador’s central bank says nothing was lost after a plane carrying its valuables ran off a runway in Cuenca.
A light plane hired by Ecuador’s central bank left the runway at Cuenca’s airport around midday on Thursday, 8 October. The Banco Central del Ecuador (BCE) said the crew is safe and its valuables remain “intact, insured and in custody.”
The Cuenca plane accident matters beyond Ecuador because the country has used the US dollar since 2000. Moving valuables safely between cities is part of how its central bank runs that dollar system.
What the Central Bank Said
The BCE manages Ecuador’s reserves and the circulation of cash. Its statement of Thursday, 8 October, said an aircraft hired to carry valuables from Guayaquil to Cuenca “made an emergency landing.”
The bank said it activated its security protocols at once and that the crew received care. It added that it verified the transported valuables “remain intact, insured and in custody, in line with established procedures.”
The BCE said it remains in constant contact with the authorities and the company providing the service. It said the authorities will determine the causes through “the corresponding investigations.”
How the Cuenca Plane Accident Unfolded
ECU 911, the national emergency service, logged a light aircraft’s “loss of runway” at 12:13 local time. It coordinated the response with health officials, firefighters, the city mobility company EMOV EP and police.
The plane came to rest on Avenida Hurtado de Mendoza, in the Milchichig area, where the runway ends. El Mercurio, Cuenca’s main daily, said an ECU 911 video showed it dropping onto the avenue.
Two people were on board, according to the civil aviation authority DGAC, as cited by El Mercurio. Firefighters initially reported two injured, and the DGAC later described both as stable after care at the scene.
Police and prosecutors from the Fiscalía went to the site to secure the valuables, the news site Primicias reported. Crews drained fuel from the aircraft on Thursday afternoon.
Airport and Roads in Cuenca
The DGAC said on Thursday afternoon that the airport was operational and that the runway was not damaged.
The city government said road closures around Milchichig will last until Sunday, 11 October, while crews dismantle the aircraft. Three junctions on Avenida Hurtado de Mendoza are closed, and bus Line 20 is rerouted.
Moving Cash in a Dollarized Economy
Ecuador issues no banknotes of its own and circulates US dollar notes alongside locally minted coins. That makes moving physical cash between cities a sensitive job for the central bank and its contractors.
In October 2024, an armed group attacked a BCE armoured vehicle near Cuenca, the daily Extra reported. One security team member died.
What It Means for You
For holders of Ecuador’s dollar bonds, the bank’s statement points to no loss. Official statements suggest no effect on deposits or payments.
For US travellers and residents in Cuenca, the airport was operating on Thursday afternoon. Allow extra time around Milchichig and Avenida España until Sunday, and check flight status with your airline.
What Is Not Known
The BCE has not said what the valuables were, whether they included cash, or what they were worth. The aircraft’s type, registration and operator are not officially confirmed; local reports gave differing operator names.
The cause is unknown, and no agency has said publicly that it leads the inquiry. Early local reports differed on whether the plane was landing or taking off.
What Comes Next
Crews are due to dismantle and remove the aircraft by Sunday, 11 October, when the city expects to lift the closures. The BCE says the authorities will establish the cause through the corresponding investigations.
By its own account, the central bank lost nothing. Cuenca’s airport is not closed; the DGAC reported normal operations on Thursday afternoon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Anyone Killed in the Cuenca Plane Accident?
No deaths were reported. Two people were on board, and the civil aviation authority described both as stable.
What Was the Plane Carrying?
It carried valuables of the central bank on a flight from Guayaquil to Cuenca. The bank has not said what they were or what they were worth.
Is the Cargo Safe?
The central bank says the valuables are intact, insured and in custody. Police and prosecutors went to the site to secure them.
Is Cuenca Airport Open?
The civil aviation authority said the airport was operational on Thursday afternoon with no runway damage. Nearby roads stay closed until Sunday, 11 October.
Why Does the Central Bank Move Dollars Around?
Ecuador has used the US dollar since 2000 and prints no banknotes of its own. Its central bank distributes dollar notes and local coins around the country.
Sources: Banco Central del Ecuador, official statement, 8 October 2026; ECU 911 Austro; El Mercurio, live report; El Mercurio, road closures; Primicias; El Universo; TC Televisión; Extra (2024) (all accessed 9 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief