Former Chilean President Sebastian Piñera dies in helicopter crash

Piñera was known to often fly his own helicopter but it was not clear if he was the pilot on the fatal flight.

By Ben Whedon

Published: February 6, 2024 4:06pm

Former President of Chile Sebastian Piñera died Tuesday in a helicopter crash age the age of 74, Interior Minister Carolina Tohá has stated.

The aircraft went down near the town of Lago Ranco and Piñera's body was recovered, Reuters reported. Three passengers survived the crash. CNN reported that the area was experiencing considerable rainfall at the time of the crash, though the impact of the adverse weather conditions on the crash remains unclear.

Piñera was known to often fly his own helicopter but it was not clear if he was the pilot on the fatal flight, according to the New York Times.

He led the country from 2010-2014 and 2018-2022 and oversaw Santiago's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was the first conservative-leaning leader of Chile since Augusto Pinochet lost power in 1990. Pinochet seized power in 1973 through a military coup against President Salvador Allende.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.