Colombian military spy plane crashes
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
According to media reports, a Colombian air force AC-47 (registration FAC1670) spy plane carrying five people has crashed near the Colombian city of La Dorada, in the department of Caldas.
All on board the plane are believed to have been killed, according to Colombia Reports. Among the dead, according to Monsters and Critics, are two technicians, a major and two second lieutenants. ABS-CBN News reports that the dead included three high ranking officials and two lower ranking ones.
Jorge Ballesteros, a Colombian air force official, says that the plane took off from an air force base in the city of Puerto Salgar and was on an exercise mission when it crashed. He also states that although it was on a training exercise, the plane was carrying bombs and machine guns.
A military team has been dispatched to the area to investigate the incident, but they have already put the blame on mechanical failure. Ballestero noted that investigators have ruled out a rebel attack and terrorism as possible causes.
AC-47's have been used by the Colombian air force for nearly 20 years, most of which were donated from the United States. They were provided to the country in an attempt to fight the illegal drug market and to defend citizens and the military against rebel attacks. They are also used to gather intelligence and come equipped with a state-of-the-art communications system, radar and infrared detection systems.
Sources
- Agence France-Presse. "Colombian military plane crash kills five: official" — ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, February 18, 2009
- Americas News. "Five dead as military plane crashes in Colombia" — Monsters and Critics, February 18, 2009
- "Five die in plane crash" — Colombia Reports, February 18, 2009
- Helen Murphy. "Colombia Spy Plane Crashes in Caldas Province, Caracol Reports" — Bloomberg L.P., February 18, 2009
- Agence France-Presse. "Military intel plane crashes in Colombia" — France 24, February 18, 2009
- "Accident description" — Aviation-Safety.net, February 18, 2009