2024-10-02 01:33:29
A tragic event has shocked the department of Vichada, Colombia, after the disappearance of a Colombian Air Force (FAC) helicopter from radar in the early hours of Sunday, September 29. The aircraft, identified as Huey II with registration FAC-4441, was carrying out an aeromedical evacuation mission between the Grupo Aéreo del Oriente (GAORI) and Cumaribo, when it lost communication with its crew near the municipality of Santa Teresita del Tuparro.
President Gustavo Petro spoke out on his social networks, lamenting the death of the eight members of the FAC. “I regret to report the death of 8 members of the Colombian Air Force who were traveling on a humanitarian mission in the department of Vichada; His helicopter crashed to the ground. A hug of solidarity to their families in the midst of this news that mourns the country,” said the president.
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The Air Force, for its part, has activated search and rescue protocols and has deployed a team to find the aircraft and assess the damage. “Search and rescue protocols were immediately activated to find the location of the helicopter and its crew in the area. The Colombian Air Force will continue to inform the public about this incident,” the institution noted.
The harsh weather conditions affecting much of the country could have been a determining factor in the accident. Alexys Benito, governor of the department of Vichada, supported this theory by stating: “We are very sad because the Air Force is a very great support for me in the department of Vichada. “Unfortunately, it has been raining a lot and we believe bad weather may have caused the accident.”
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So far, the identities of the crew members on board have been preliminarily released. Among them are captain Julián Perilla, deputy mayor Edgar Durán Villarreal, second technician Jhonattan Caro Rincón, third technician Liceth Duarte Barbosa, and fourth technicians Karel Rojas Núñez, Luis Montoya Ospina, Ana María Gutiérrez Bolívar and María González Ramírez. An official statement from the FAC is expected to provide more details about the tragic event.