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| A past helicopter crash in Colombia (left) and an army pilot riding a military helicopter (right) (photos for illustrations). |
At least eight soldiers have died in a helicopter crash in the municipality of Cumaribo near the border with Venezuela. What President Gustavo Petro said about the chopper crash In a statement on X, President Gustavo Petro said the helicopter transporting soldiers on a humanitarian mission crashed on Sunday, September 29. The president offered “a hug of solidarity” for the bereaved families as the country mourns the deceased in the tragedy. “I regret to report the death of 8 members of the @FuerzaAereaCol who were travelling on a humanitarian mission in the department of Vichada, their helicopter crashed to the ground. A hug of solidarity to their families in the midst of this news that has brought mourning to the country,” said President Petro.
What caused the Eastern Columbia plane crash? According to NTDV, the helicopter was found after a search in a rural area in the municipality of Cumaribo, and there were no survivors. Images distributed by Colombian media showed the burnt wreckage of the aircraft in the middle of a grassland. Earlier, the Colombian Air Force said that the Huey II helicopter, with registration number FAC-4441, had lost contact while on a medical mission leading search and rescue operations. The Air Force said the crew’s families were receiving support while a recovery mission was underway. Authorities’ preliminary investigations indicate that bad weather may be the primary cause of the crash.
by Amos Khaemba Nancy Odindo
