Quintana Roo Auctions Ex-Official Helicopter Águila 1

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — The government of Quintana Roo has announced the auction of the helicopter Águila 1, previously used by the controversial former Secretary of Public Security, Jesús Alberto Capella Ibarra, during the administration of Carlos Joaquín González. The helicopter, along with a 1976 Piper Seneca aircraft, is being sold as part of a public auction initiated by the Secretariat of Finance and Planning (Sefiplan).

Helicopter and Aircraft Deemed Obsolete

According to the auction notice published on July 1, both the helicopter and the aircraft are being sold because they "no longer serve a useful purpose for the state government due to their age, condition, and operational limitations."

The helicopter, listed in the auction catalog simply as a Bell 1996 model, carries a base price of 19,213,860 pesos. However, records from the state-owned company VIP Servicios Aéreos Ejecutivos (VIP Saesa) identify it as a Bell Textron Model 407, manufactured in 1996, with registration XC-FIP and a capacity for seven passengers, including the pilot.

Controversial History of Águila 1

Jesús Alberto Capella Ibarra, who served under former Governor Carlos Joaquín, had previously claimed that the helicopter was underutilized and left abandoned in a Mexico City hangar before being refurbished for public security operations. The restoration cost the state 2 million pesos, while its annual operational expenses reached approximately 18 million pesos during Capella’s tenure.

Reports indicate that the helicopter was primarily used for Capella’s personal travel between Chetumal, Playa del Carmen, and Cancún, with only occasional patrol flights in high-crime areas.

New Helicopter Acquisition

In 2023, the Quintana Roo government purchased a newer Bell 429 model helicopter, registration XA-VGF, for 440 million pesos. This aircraft, stationed in Cancún, is now assigned to the Secretariat of Citizen Security and the State Coordination of Civil Protection.

Second Aircraft in Auction

The second item up for auction is a 1976 Piper PA-34-200T Seneca II aircraft, with a base price of 3,131,600 pesos. Records show it has a capacity for five passengers plus the pilot and was previously used for official transport, air taxi services, and industrial support. Its last insurance policy was valued at nearly $4,500.

Auction Timeline

The registration period for the auction began on July 1 and will close on July 28, with the bidding session scheduled for August 4.

Unofficial records indicate that VIP Saesa still retains other aircraft, including a Piper PA-31 Navajo (XA-THX), a Beechcraft King Air C-90 (XA-ROO), and a Cirrus SR22 (XA-UTR).