A helicopter of the Secretariat of the Navy collapsed on Friday in a cultivation area of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, leaving a balance of 14 dead.
According to President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the Black Hawk helicopter was carrying 15 people, who had just supported the arrest of drug trafficker Rafael Caro Quintero.
Only one person survived and is seriously injured receiving medical attention.
The Navy and the president said that the cause of the accident is still unknown, but that the corresponding investigations will be carried out to determine it.
“I have been informed by the Secretary of the Navy, José Rafael Ojeda Durán, that an investigation will be ordered to know the causes of the collapse of the helicopter in which they were traveling when they were about to land in Los Mochis, Sinaloa,” López Obrador published.
I very much regret the loss of 14 elements of the Mexican Navy and wish to recover the officer who is seriously injured. I send my sincere condolences and hug to his family, colleagues and friends. 1/3
— Andrés Manuel (@lopezobrador_) July 16, 2022
“The Secretariat of the Navy-Navy of Mexico regrets the death of those who lost their lives in this accident; naval personnel, who in life showed service and dedication to the nation,” he said in a statement.
Between 2013 and 2018 alone, the Mexican Air Force accumulated 56 mishaps of its aircraft, where more than 80% involved military aircraft with more than 10 years of manufacture.
One of the most serious accidents in military aircraft occurred in February 2018, in Oaxaca, where a UH-60M Black Falcon helicopter collapsed killing 15 people, including crew and civilians who were in the area. In addition, there were five injured.
This incident occurred when the helicopter, with former Interior Secretary Alfonso Navarrete Prida on board, traveled during the night to the entity to supervise the support work for an earthquake that had just occurred in the region, with its epicenter in Pinotepa Nacional. While trying to land the pilot lost control and the aircraft fell away from the landing point, hitting several vehicles that were parked and with people inside.
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