Four dead, including a deputy, when a small plane crashes

2023-12-03 03:05:18

Four people, including a deputy from the ruling Colorado Party, died this Saturday in Paraguay, after the plane fell to the ground in which they were traveling in an area of ​​the municipality of Guayaibí, in the department of San Pedro (east).

The commander of the National Police of Paraguay, Commissioner Carlos Benítez, told the ABC TV channel, citing witness accounts, that among the fatalities were Deputy Walter Harmshis brother Carlos, the pilot and a fourth occupant.

Benítez clarified that this is “basic” and “unofficial” information that must be confirmed through “painstaking” criminalistics and forensic work “that will take time.” He also detailed that he detailed that the incident occurred around 6:00 p.m. local time (9:00 p.m. GMT).

The small plane, a Cessna C172, could have collided with the top of a tree located on a private runway from where they planned to take off, the police chief added. However, he pointed out that they must determine the causes of the accident and whether these first versions are true.

The device had taken off on Saturday morning from Silvio Pettirossi Airport (serving Asunción) at 11.38 local time (2.30 GMT) and landed in Guayaibí around noon.

Media images showed the plane fuselage engulfed in flames. Many locals rushed to the scene of the accident trying to rescue the occupants.

The pilot of the plane, César Godoy Figueredo, published a photo before the accident in which you can see Deputy Harms and his brother Carlos.

After learning of the fact, the country’s vice president, Pedro Alliana, published on his account on the social network

For his part, the head of the Chamber of Deputies of Paraguay, Raúl Latorre, regretted the early departure of Harms.

“Your friends from the Chamber of Deputies, the party and all of us who had the joy of knowing you are going to miss you deeply,” he added.

In a statement, the Lower House confirmed that Harms began his third constitutional period as a deputy.

It is with deep pain that I receive this sad news about the death of my colleague, friend and brother of dreams, Walter Harms. His unexpected departure leaves us all heartbroken. My condolences to his family. My best memories dear Walter. RIP. pic.twitter.com/PtNQZDELM9

— Pedro Alliana (@AllianaPedro) December 2, 2023

Last August it was learned that the legislator from the department of Itapúa was elected president of the Paraguayan delegation to the Mercosur Parliament (Parlasur), made up of nine senators and the same number of deputies.

Also on August 4, Harms reported that the US Government canceled his visa, that of his wife (who recently died) and his children, a decision that he described as “sovereign.”