2015 Colombia helicopter crash

2015 Colombia helicopter crash
Accident
A UH-60 Black Hawk similar to the helicopter involved in the crash
Date	4 August 2015 (2015-08-04)
Summary	Possible shootdown
Site	Colombia
Aircraft
Aircraft type	UH-60 Black Hawk
Occupants	18
Fatalities	16
Injuries	2
Survivors	2

On August 4, 2015, 16 policemen died in a helicopter accident in northwestern Colombia. The Colombian Defense Minister, Luis Carlos Villegas [es], stated that the crash was most likely caused by bad weather.^[1]^[2]

The flight was part of an operation against Clan Úsuga, a criminal organization composed of former right-wing paramilitary group members. Two other helicopters flew on the same mission but did not encounter difficulties and did not hear any hostile fire.^[1]

Aftermath

The helicopter crash happened 4 days after a Colombian Air Force CASA/IPTN CN-235 transport airplane crashed in Cesar Department, killing all 11 service members aboard.^[3] So far in 2015, 35 members of the military or police have been killed in 5 separate accidents involving aircraft. The spate of casualties have led to questions about the efficacy of the military's air operations procedures.^[4] A debate was organized in the Congress of Colombia to discuss the accidents, and the Defense Minister and Air Force Commander were called upon to testify.^[5] An investigation found that the helicopter may have been shot down.^[6]

References

^ ^a ^b "Helicopter accident kills 16 police officers in Colombia". reuters.com. Thomson Reuters. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
^ "Sixteen Colombian Police officers killed in helicopter crash while searching for drug lord". itv.com. Retrieved 2015-10-07.
^ "'Caída de avión en Cesar fue a causa de condiciones meteorológicas'". eltiempo.com. El Tiempo Casa Editorial. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
^ "Accidente de Black Hawk, el segundo desastre aéreo en 96 horas". eltiempo.com. El Tiempo Casa Editorial. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
^ "Siniestros en aeronaves militares, a debate en el Congreso". eltiempo.com. El Tiempo Casa Editorial. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
^ "Helicopter that crashed in northwest Colombia was shot down: Opposition". colombiareports.com. 6 August 2015.