An air ambulance carrying six people, including a patient, has crashed in a mountainous region of central Chile, prompting a major search operation. The crash occurred near the Cerro El Roble mountain, located in the Curacavi area, just outside Santiago. The aircraft, a Piper Cheyenne II, took off from Santiago and was en route to Arica when it lost contact with authorities late Wednesday. The General Direction of Civil Aviation (DGAC) confirmed the crash and revealed that the aircraft was carrying a patient, along with medical personnel and the crew.
The DGAC posted an update on X (formerly known as Twitter), confirming that the aircraft, registered as CC-CCC, crashed with six people on board. The authorities immediately initiated a search operation, and emergency responders are working to locate the wreckage. However, the terrain where the crash occurred is challenging to navigate, with steep elevations and heavy rain that has severely damaged the access roads to the area.
Curacavi’s mayor, Christian Hernandez, spoke to Chile’s Television Nacional about the difficulties faced by the search teams. He described the region as “very difficult to access” due to its high altitude, which complicates rescue operations. The adverse weather conditions, with rainfall and possible landslides, have further hindered the rescue effort. Despite these challenges, the search teams are continuing to comb the area, hoping to locate any survivors.
The incident has sent shockwaves through Chile, with locals and the wider public closely following the search efforts. The air ambulance’s crash highlights the risks involved in medical evacuations, especially in difficult-to-reach regions. As rescue workers press on, hopes remain high that the search will lead to positive results, although the terrain and weather remain significant obstacles in the recovery operation. Authorities have yet to confirm details on the cause of the crash, and investigations are underway.
