An air force helicopter crashed in Vichada: eight soldiers are dead

There is commotion in the department of Vichada after a helicopter assigned to the Colombian Air Force disappeared from the radar near the municipality of Santa Teresita del Tuparro in the early hours of this Sunday, September 29.

Although the institution did not confirm that the plane crashed to the ground, but according to the photos that circulated on social networks in the last hours, eight crew members on board would have lost their lives immediately.

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“The Colombian Air Force is searching for a Huey II helicopter with registration FAC-4441 after it lost contact with the crew while conducting an air evacuation mission between Grupo Aéreo del Oriente, GAORI and Cumaribo, Vichada,” Air said. Force.

However, the President of the Republic, Gustavo Petro, assured on his social networks that eight uniformed men died on the spot, apparently after facing the harsh weather conditions that much of the country is experiencing.

“I regret to announce the death of 8 members of the Colombian Air Force who were traveling on a humanitarian mission in the department of Vichada, their helicopter crashed to the ground. Solidarity hugs to their families in the midst of this news that is grieving the country,” the President said.

Meanwhile, the FAC deployed a team to locate the aircraft and assess the damage. But footage of the tragic event started circulating on social media as the helicopter reportedly caught fire seconds after hitting the ground.

“Search and rescue protocols were immediately activated to locate the helicopter and its crew in the area. The Colombian Air Force will continue to inform the public about this incident,” the institution noted.

At this time, the identity of the crew on board is tentatively known and an official FAC statement is expected to provide details on what may have happened in the area. Captain Julián Perilla will be found on the plane; vice mayor Edgar Durán Villarreal, second technician Jhonattan Caro Rincón; third technician Liceth Duarte Barbosa and fourth technician Karel Rojas Núñez; Luis Montoya Ospina, Ana María Gutiérrez Bolívar and María González Ramírez.

For his part, Vichada Department Governor Alexys Benito also gave strength to the theory that bad weather in the region could have caused the incident.

“It is really very sad, we are very sad because the Air Force is a big support for me in the Vichada department. Unfortunately, at one o’clock in the morning I went to look for a sick person, the patient in the jurisdiction of the municipality of Cumaribo left the Marandúa Air Base. Unfortunately we don’t know, it rained a lot and we believe it’s bad weather because of the accident, brother, eight people died, eight soldiers. Very sad news,” said the regional leader.