Colombian military helicopter targeting ELN rebels crashes; 17 dead

A missing Mi-17 Colombian navy helicopter that crashed on Sunday sporting 17 personnel was found on Monday. There had been no survivors.

The crash took place in Colombia’s nation of Chocó. Aboard the helicopter were five group participantsand 12 squaddies who have been carrying out aid operations towards the country wide Liberation navy, or ELN, rebellion group.

The Colombian navy on Sunday said the team done an operation that killed 3 ELN members and rescued a hostage who turned into taken by means of the ELN over two weeks in the past.”They knowledgeable methat they’ve located the crash web site. Our guys are becoming closer to where the helicopter ispositioned and the forecast is not properly. I want to deeply regret what took place,” Santos stated in advance on Monday, including that an research has been released as to why the crash took place.

The helicopter become travelling from Quibdó inside the Chocó country towards Tolemaida in the Tolimakingdom. close by residents reported listening to an explosion quickly after a helicopter passed.

Jesús Ospina, mayor of the metropolis of Pensilvania in the Caldas nation, said nearby farmers noticedthe helicopter crash in rugged mountains.

Saheli