Five people have been killed in a helicopter crash in the northeast of Colombia, local authorities said Tuesday.
Aviation authority Aerocivil told Colombia Reports the helicopter had crashed around 9AM near the town of Ocaña in the Norte de Santander department.
Local media cited local authorities confirming that five people were killed in the crash. Aerocivil could not confirm this as the aviation authority had not reached the site of the crash at the time of publication.
The aviation official talking to this website said only three people had registered to board the helicopter. The helicopter belonged to oil company Petronorte and was on its way to make reparations to the Caño Limon oil pipeline that had been damaged in a FARC attack only days ago.
MORE: Explosions Shut Down Colombia’s 2nd Largest Oil Pipeline
According to newspaper La Opinion, authorities have not ruled out the possibility the helicopter was shot down by one of the illegal armed groups active in the Catatumbo where the accident took place.
Location of the crash
Sources
- Interview with Aerocivil
- Cinco muertos al caer helicóptero en Teorama (La Opinion)