2015 Colombia helicopter crash

On August 4, 2015, 16 policemen died in a helicopter accident in northwestern Colombia. The Colombian Defense Minister, Luis Carlos Villegas, stated that the crash was most likely caused by bad weather.[1][2]

2015 Colombia helicopter crash
A UH-60 Black Hawk similar to the helicopter involved in the crash
Accident
Date4 August 2015 (2015-08-04)
SummaryPossible shootdown
SiteColombia
Aircraft
Aircraft typeUH-60 Black Hawk
Occupants18
Fatalities16
Injuries2
Survivors2

The flight was part of an operation against Clan Úsuga, a criminal organization composed of former right-wing paramilitary group members. Two other helicopters flew on the same mission but did not encounter difficulties and did not hear any hostile fire.[1]

Aftermath

The helicopter crash happened 4 days after a Colombian Air Force CASA/IPTN CN-235 transport airplane crashed in Cesar Department, killing all 11 service members aboard.[3] So far in 2015, 35 members of the military or police have been killed in 5 separate accidents involving aircraft. The spate of casualties have led to questions about the efficacy of the military's air operations procedures.[4] A debate was organized in the Congress of Colombia to discuss the accidents, and the Defense Minister and Air Force Commander were called upon to testify.[5] An investigation found that the helicopter may have been shot down.[6]

References
  1. "Helicopter accident kills 16 police officers in Colombia". reuters.com. Thomson Reuters. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  2. "Sixteen Colombian Police officers killed in helicopter crash while searching for drug lord". itv.com. Retrieved 2015-10-07.
  3. "'Caída de avión en Cesar fue a causa de condiciones meteorológicas'". eltiempo.com. El Tiempo Casa Editorial. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  4. "Accidente de Black Hawk, el segundo desastre aéreo en 96 horas". eltiempo.com. El Tiempo Casa Editorial. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  5. "Siniestros en aeronaves militares, a debate en el Congreso". eltiempo.com. El Tiempo Casa Editorial. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  6. "Helicopter that crashed in northwest Colombia was shot down: Opposition". colombiareports.com. 6 August 2015.

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