A private plane carrying five German passengers vanished off the coast of Costa Rica on a Friday, according to statements from the Costa Rican Ministry of Public Safety. The group included Rainer Schaller, a noted entrepreneur who built the McFit fitness chain, along with his partner and children. Reports circulating in German media identified the individuals on board, including Schaller, his partner, their children, and one other man, though the exact identities were not officially confirmed by authorities at that time.
Officials indicated that the plane was an enforcement aircraft traveling from Mexico toward Limón and that it disappeared while near the Parismina region in the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. The Ministry of Public Safety released an official narrative describing the sequence of events and the moment radio contact was lost as the aircraft neared Barra de Parismina airport, around 6 PM local time. The loss of contact prompted immediate action and a coordinated search effort.
Search and rescue operations began promptly, with participation from national services and regional partners. The operation involved the national Coast Guard Service, the Air Surveillance Service, and other public safety agencies. Initial efforts focused on gathering data, coordinating with neighboring countries where possible, and deploying available assets to the suspected search zones along the coast and over the Caribbean sea. Weather and light conditions later limited the scope of the search and caused temporary pauses until conditions allowed continued progress. Coast Guard teams prepared to resume operations the following day to maximize the chances of locating survivors or the aircraft debris.
A spokesperson for McFit, speaking through a German media outlet, confirmed that the passengers included Schaller, his partner, and their children. The family’s involvement on the trip was acknowledged by the company, though no further details were provided at that moment. The spokesperson stated that there were no additional comments available while authorities conducted their investigations and rescue efforts, and that updates would be shared as information became available.
The Piaggio P.180 Avanti aircraft in question had departed from Mexico and was en route to the Costa Rican province of Limón when radio contact was abruptly severed. The aircraft’s last known position placed it over the Parismina area as the sun began to dip toward the horizon. Investigators and aviation authorities began to piece together the flight plan, the crew manifest, and any maintenance or flight-record data that could illuminate the sequence of events leading up to the disappearance. The incident underscored the complexity of tracking small, private aircraft across international airspace and highlighted the importance of timely communication and emergency procedures in remote coastal regions.
Rainer Schaller is widely recognized for founding the McFit network in the mid-1990s, growing it into one of Europe’s most expansive fitness chains with hundreds of facilities across multiple countries. Beyond his role in the fitness sector, he has been involved in promoting electronic music events and related partnerships, contributing to a prominent profile in European entertainment circles. The disappearance raised questions about the safety measures surrounding private aviation, the networks of international flight operations, and the ways in which information about high-profile travelers is shared in public channels. As authorities continue to investigate the incident, observers await official statements detailing flight data, passenger lists, and potential contributing factors that could clarify what happened during the final moments of the flight and the search efforts that followed.