Seven Dead in Firefighting Helicopter Crash in San Juan, Argentina

Seven people died on Wednesday after a Bell 412 helicopter crashed in the Ischigualasto Provincial Park in the province of San Juan, Argentina. The aircraft, which was contracted by the Federal Emergency Agency (AFE), had been participating in a forest fire combat training course and was en route to the neighboring province of La Rioja to assist in controlling active wildfires.

The victims include several high-ranking provincial officials: Carlos Heredia, director of Civil Protection; Germán Videla, sub-chief of the San Juan Police; Rubén Castro, chief of Firefighters; and Jorge Carbajal, second chief of Firefighters. Also killed were the pilot, Matías Valenzuela, and two AFE brigadistas, Andrés Bosch and Rodrigo Aimetta.

Contact with the aircraft was lost at 10:26 a.m. local time, followed by an emergency locator transmitter activation at approximately 10:30 a.m. Search and rescue teams located the wreckage in a remote area known as Campo Caballo Anca, characterized by difficult terrain. The governor of San Juan, Marcelo Orrego, confirmed the fatalities via X and decreed three days of mourning for the province. Additionally, activities at Ischigualasto Provincial Park were suspended.

While official causes are still under investigation, some reports indicate contributing environmental factors. Mario Riveros, the mayor of Valle Fértil, noted that fog may have hindered visibility. Other reports highlight a regional alert for Zonda winds, characterized by intense gusts and extreme dryness, as well as smoke from nearby fires, which authorities are investigating as potential factors affecting the helicopter's stability.