2009 Táchira helicopter crash
| Industry | Military |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Venezuela |
Template:Infobox Aircraft accident
The 2009 Táchira helicopter accident involved a Bolivarian Army of Venezuela Mil Mi-17 helicopter that crashed on 3 May 2009, resulting in the deaths of all seventeen individuals on board.
Crash
Around midday local time (16:30 UTC), the helicopter went down near El Alto de Rubio, located in the northwestern Venezuelan state of Táchira.[1][2][3] All seventeen occupants perished, including a Brigadier-General, two army pilots, thirteen other military personnel, and one civilian. Initial reports from Venezuelan officials indicated eighteen fatalities; however, this figure was later revised to seventeen.[4][1][2][5] Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, a former army Lieutenant-Colonel, announced the tragedy during his weekly televised address, paying homage to the fallen soldiers, particularly General Faneite, whom he had known as a cadet.[1]
The exact reason behind the crash remains undetermined. It is documented that adverse weather conditions were present in the region prior to the incident. The aircraft involved was a Russian-made Mil Mi-17.Template:Fix/category[citation needed]
This accident took place only days after Colombian President Álvaro Uribe requested Venezuelan cooperation to combat FARC guerrilla forces operating along the border. Whether this crash is connected to heightened Venezuelan military efforts against these insurgents is not established.[1] Additionally, the recent annual report from the United States Department of State criticized Venezuela for inadequate border control, noting that Colombian rebels and paramilitary groups "frequently crossed into Venezuelan territory to rest and regroup as well as to extort protection money".[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedBBC - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedAP - ↑ "Venezuela military helicopter crash kills 18-Chavez". Reuters. 3 May 2009. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
- ↑ "Las autoridades reducen a 17 los militares venezolanos fallecidos en un accidente de helicóptero". cadena SER (in español). Europa Press. 4 May 2009. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedLA
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