A helicopter accident occurred in Ilihue, 560 miles south of Santiago de Chile capital city. According to preliminary reports, a Robinson helicopter crashed with four souls on board.
Allegedly, 3 people survived the crash but the one fatality has been identified as former Chilean President Sebastián Piñera (74).
Piñera, born on December 1, 1949, served as the President of Chile in two non-consecutive terms from 2010 to 2014 and from 2018 to 2022.
A billionaire before his political career, Piñera applied his business acumen to national governance, focusing on economic growth and social welfare, while also navigating challenges such as environmental concerns and education reform.
His first tenure is remembered for the successful 2010 rescue of 33 miners and his efforts to enhance Chile’s infrastructure and renewable energy sector. Piñera’s tenure also saw him playing a vital role in regional diplomacy and advocating for Chile’s leadership in sustainable development in Latin America.
Sources indicate that the helicopter went down in the water right after take-off and three occupants were able to exit the airframe, but he would have been unable to escape. Local witnesses also comment on poor weather conditions.
At 17:00 local time, at a press conference, the Chilean Minister of the Interior, Carolina Tohá, officially confirmed his death after the recovery of the body by the Navy.
«We want first of all to express our shock for this tragedy, to send our solidarity to embrace to the family of the former president, to all his close ones, but also to all Chilean men and women because Sebastián Piñera was the democratic president of Chile in two opportunities and will consequently have all the honors and recognition he deserves«, said Tohá.
«President Piñera governed us and we will remember him for the way he gave and dedicated his life to public service,» she added, indicating that current President Gabriel Boric instructed a state funeral and the declaration of national mourning.
Upon taking office in 2010, he had to divest 26% of the shares of the then LAN airline, which later merged with Brazilian TAM to form LATAM Airlines, the largest Latin American airline holding.
