MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Five killed in Chilean Air Force helicopter crash

The FACH Bell-412 aircraft was performing a night flight training mission

All five occupants of a Chilean Air Force (FACH) helicopter that crashed Monday in the Los Lagos Region were reported dead, according to an official statement. A Bell-412 aircraft belonging to Aviation Group No. 5 suffered an accident at approximately 8.30 pm in the sector of La Cumbre, in the commune of San Juan de la Costa, according to local media.

“The Chilean Air Force reports that, for reasons under investigation, a Bell-412 helicopter, belonging to the Aviation Group No. 5, suffered an accident at approximately 8:30 p.m. on July 31, in the La Cumbre sector, in the San Juan de la Costa district, Los Lagos Region,” the statement said.

“At the time of the incident, the aircraft was performing a night flight training mission, with a crew composed of 5 members of the institution, who unfortunately died on the spot,” it added. The FACH also explained that all pertinent information had been forwarded to the Aviation Prosecutor's Office.

“The Chilean Air Force is providing assistance and support to the families of our deceased comrades in this accident that mourns the Institution,” the document also pointed out.

“We are in contact with the regional chiefs of the FACh and Carabineros after the plane crash in the La Cumbre sector of San Juan de la Costa. Emergency teams and institutions are deployed,” Los Lagos Regional Presidential Delegate Giovanna Moreira said through Twitter. She went to the accident site, as did National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response (Senapred) Regional Director Alejandro Verges.

“According to the information provided by Carabineros, there are five people dead, so we extend our condolences to the Chilean Air Force, as well as to their families,” Osorno Provincial Presidential Delegate Claudia Pailalef told reporters.