Chile's Deputy Defense Minister Ricardo Montero said Friday in an interview with Radio Bío Bío that his country's Air Force (FACh) was still investigating the Aug. 27 alleged intrusion of unidentified aircraft in an area near the Strait of Magellan which triggered an emergency response protocol.
Chile's Air Force (FACh) deployed two F-5 fighter jets from the Chabunco air base in Punta Arenas after unidentified traffic was detected Tuesday at around 7 pm local time in the vicinity. Some Chilean outlets said the alleged intruder stemmed from Argentina but Defense Minister Maya Fernández never admitted (nor denied) the possibility.
Scientists in southern Chile have found in the Strait of Magellan a type of red hydrocoral, consisting of immobile animals similar in appearance to a plant or a rock. The specimens of Errina Antarctica were discovered in the Kawésqar National Reserve, a protected marine area more than 3,000 km from Santiago, it was reported Friday.
Chile's Navy confirmed Tuesday through a posting on X that the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington had crossed the Strait of Magellan into Pacific Ocean waters and was on her way to Valparaíso. Accompanying the vessel were the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Porter (DDG-78) and the Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet tanker USNS John Lenthall (T-AO-189).