2015 Colombia helicopter crash explained
| 2015 Colombia helicopter crash |
| Image Upright: | 1.1 |
| Occurrence Type: | Accident |
| Summary: | Possible shootdown |
| Site: | Colombia |
| Aircraft Type: | UH-60 Black Hawk |
| Occupants: | 18 |
| Fatalities: | 16 |
| Injuries: | 2 |
| Survivors: | 2 |
On August 4, 2015, 16 policemen died in a helicopter accident in northwestern Colombia. The Colombian Defense Minister,, stated that the crash was most likely caused by bad weather.[1] [2]
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]
Notes and References
- Web site: Helicopter accident kills 16 police officers in Colombia. reuters.com. Thomson Reuters. 16 August 2015. 8 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151208202439/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-colombia-accident-helicopter-idUSKCN0Q925Q20150805. live.
- Web site: Sixteen Colombian Police officers killed in helicopter crash while searching for drug lord. itv.com. 2015-10-07. 2018-10-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20181020224000/http://www.itv.com/news/2015-08-05/sixteen-colombian-police-officers-killed-in-helicopter-crash-while-searching-for-drug-lord/. live.
- Web site: 'Caída de avión en Cesar fue a causa de condiciones meteorológicas'. eltiempo.com. El Tiempo Casa Editorial. 16 August 2015. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075755/http://www.eltiempo.com/politica/justicia/accidente-de-avion-de-la-fuerza-aerea/16192517. live.
- Web site: Accidente de Black Hawk, el segundo desastre aéreo en 96 horas. eltiempo.com. El Tiempo Casa Editorial. 16 August 2015. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070020/http://www.eltiempo.com/politica/justicia/accidentes-aereos-en-las-fuerza-armadas-2015/16193658. live.
- Web site: Siniestros en aeronaves militares, a debate en el Congreso. eltiempo.com. El Tiempo Casa Editorial. 16 August 2015. 29 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160529160341/http://www.eltiempo.com/politica/congreso/debate-sobre-las-aeronaves-militares-en-colombia-/16223169. live.
- Web site: Helicopter that crashed in northwest Colombia was shot down: Opposition. 6 August 2015. colombiareports.com. 5 July 2016. 31 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240831235759/https://colombiareports.com/helicopter-that-crashed-in-northwest-colombia-was-shot-down-opposition/. live.
