Piñera and the list of Latin American politicians who suffered plane accidents

Throughout history, several Latin American politicians have been involved in plane accidents. Some died, as happened yesterday Tuesday to the two-time president of Chile Sebastian Piñerabut others miraculously saved their lives.

In all cases, these events had a significant impact on the politics and society of their respective countries. In addition to the legacy of mourning, the fatal accidents generated debates about aviation safety and the circumstances surrounding the accidents.

Gaviria, Paz Zamora and Neruda escaped

– César Gaviria (Colombia). The then candidate for the Presidency of Colombia for the Liberal Party César Gaviria escaped the bomb attack that on November 27, 1989 caused the explosion in mid-flight of an Avianca airline plane perpetrated by the Medellín cartel and which caused the death of 107 people. Gaviria decided at the last minute not to take that flight.

– Jaime Paz Zamora (Bolivia). The former president of Bolivia Jaime Paz Zamora (1989-1993) suffered an attack on June 2, 1980, during the electoral campaign in which he sought the vice presidency for the leftist Popular and Democratic Unity (UDP). The plane in which he was traveling fell and he was the only survivor of the six people who were traveling on the plane.

– Pablo Neruda (Chile). Although Neruda was better known for his literary side than for his public activity, he also had responsibilities as a politician and diplomat. Neruda survived a plane crash in 1946, when the plane he was traveling in fell in a forest near the municipality of Valdivia, in the Los Ríos region.

– Jorge Alessandri Rodríguez (Chile). Although he did not die in an air disaster, the former president of Chile survived a plane crash in 1956 when he was a presidential candidate.

– Francisco Morales-Bermúdez (Peru). The former Peruvian president survived a plane crash in 1983. Morales-Bermúdez governed Peru from 1975 to 1980.

Piñera, Torrijos, Roldós and Barrientos did not suffer the same fate

– Sebastián Piñera (Chile). The two-time president of Chile died this Tuesday as a result of the accident of the helicopter he was piloting over Lake Ranco, in the Los Ríos region. His sister, Magdalena Piñera, his friend Ignacio Guerrero and his son, Bautista Guerrero, managed to survive.

– Omar Torrijos (Panama). The leader of the Panamanian revolution and head of state died on July 30, 1981 when the aircraft in which he was traveling crashed near the town of Coclesito, in the province of Colón. For years there was speculation that Torrijos was the victim of a “conspiracy” planned by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States.

– Jaime Roldós Aguilera (Ecuador). The president of Ecuador died on May 24, 1981, when his plane crashed in Huayrapungo, province of La Loja, on the border between Ecuador and Peru. In addition, his wife, Marta Bucaram, also lost their lives in the accident; the Minister of Defense, Marco, and several other passengers got on. His death sparked speculation about a possible political assassination.

– René Barrientos (Bolivia). The president of Bolivia died on April 27, 1969, when the helicopter he was traveling in crashed in the Arque canyon. His death also sparked controversy and conspiracy theories.

– Ulyses Guimaraes (Brazil). The former president of the Chamber of Deputies Ulyses Guimaraes, who played a fundamental role in the fight for the return of democracy, died on October 12, 1992 when the helicopter in which he was traveling fell into the sea near Angra dos Reis, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The accident was never fully clarified.

– Juan Camilo Mouriño (Mexico). On November 4, 2008, Mexico’s Secretary of the Interior died in a Learjet 45 plane accident, which crashed in Mexico City. Mouriño was a central figure in the Government of President Felipe Calderón (2006-2012).

– Francisco Blake Mora (Mexico). The Mexican Secretary of the Interior died on November 11, 2011 near the city of Cuernavaca, when the helicopter in which he was traveling along with seven other people crashed. There were no survivors.

– Porfirio Javier Sánchez Mendoza (Mexico). The Secretary of Public Security of the state of Aguascalientes died on November 17, 2022 in a helicopter accident in which four other people perished.

– Eduardo Campos (Brazil). The Brazilian presidential candidate died on August 13, 2014 when, during his election campaign, his plane crashed in Santos in bad weather.

– Guadalupe Larriva (Ecuador). Nine days after taking office as Minister of Defense, Larriva died on December 27, 2006 when the helicopter in which she was traveling collided with another aircraft.

– Martha Erika Alonso and her husband, Rafael Moreno Valle (Mexico). The two senators died in a helicopter accident in Puebla on December 24, 2018.

– Luis Gneiting (Paraguay). Paraguay’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, the vice minister and two other people died in a small plane crash in a rural area of ​​southern Paraguay on July 27, 2018.

-Juan Luis Londoño- (Colombia). Colombia’s Minister of Social Protection, Juan Luis Londoño, and four other people died when the small plane they were traveling in crashed in the center of the country on February 6, 2003.