Eight missing after military helicopter crashes into sea off Venezuela
August 19th, 2011 - 4:18 am ICT by BNO NewsCARACAS, VENEZUELA (BNO NEWS) — A Venezuelan military helicopter carrying 10 people crashed into the sea on Wednesday afternoon, officials said on Thursday. One person has been confirmed dead.
The accident happened at around 5.45 p.m. local time when the Bell 412 helicopter, belonging to Venezuela’s National Armed Forces, crashed into the sea near the municipality of Peñalver in the state of Anzoategui. It was traveling from Carupano to Malquetia.
Communication and Information Minister Andres Izarra confirmed that search and rescue teams were able to find one survivor, who was identified as Army First Sergeant Edward Gonzalez. In addition, one of the pilots’ bodies was found and identified as Lieutenant Freddy Zabaleta.
Search and rescue operations continued on Thursday around the crash site but officials do not expect to find other survivors.
The eight missing people were identified as Vice Admiral Luis Fernando Berrios Pardo, Sub-Admiral Villarroel, Captain Ferreira Da Silva, Captain Otto Cerrutti Cachut, Lieutenant Jose Grosso Santoni, First Sargeant Vera Valera, First Sargeant Gonzalez, and Second Sergeant Mervis Gonzalez Vera.
- Conviasa passenger plane crashes in Venezuela - Sep 13, 2010
- Five Colombian cops die in plane crash - Jul 29, 2011
- Venezuelans protest against US sanctions - May 26, 2011
- Messi always gives more than his best for national team: Zabaleta - Sep 01, 2011
- Venezuela, Cuba sign oil exploration treaty - Apr 23, 2010
- Messi to captain strong Argentina side in Kolkata - Aug 19, 2011
- 20 killed in Karachi plane crash (Fourth Lead) - Nov 05, 2010
- Venezuelan rockers are back with new album - Aug 30, 2011
- Diamond heist culprits detained in Dubai: Police - Aug 24, 2010
- Conviasa passenger plane crashes in eastern Venezuela, some survive - Sep 13, 2010
- Two die in IAF plane crash (Lead) - Aug 04, 2011
- Over one tonne cocaine seized in Venezuela - Mar 08, 2011
- Six killed in Venezuelan plane crash - Feb 23, 2011
- Chavez recovering well, says Venezuelan official - Jun 27, 2011
- Four Americans killed in Bahamas plane crash - Mar 27, 2012
Tags: andres izarra, anzoategui, bell 412 helicopter, bno, caracas venezuela, carupano, cerrutti, crash site, da silva, edward gonzalez, first sergeant, helicopter crashes, jose grosso, mervis, military helicopter, santoni, sargeant, venezuela caracas, vice admiral, zabaleta