A Paraguayan Air Force (FAP) training helicopter crashed to the ground yesterday morning. The tragic accident happened around 8 in the morning.
At press time, three of the four crew members perished after the accident. At first, they all managed to get out of the aircraft before catching fire. But they arrived lifeless at the welfare posts. They are Major DCEM Gustavo Velazco (mechanic), Lieutenant PAM Andrea Cubilla (mechanic) and NCO Gustavo Arzamendia (student). The fourth member still alive is Vice Sergeant Antonio Martínez (instructor).
Arturo González, commander of the Air Force, said at a press conference that the helicopter was donated by Taiwan approximately 10 years ago. It was used for training flights. He indicated that, apparently, within the maneuvers carried out, they had a mishap that forced a forced landing.
“They were evacuated to the San Jorge Hospital and the Military Hospital. We have created a commission to investigate the accident. Normally when these events occur the influencing factors are analyzed, such as the human factor, material and operational factor ”, he pointed out.
He stressed that the aircraft have their maintenance schedule that are met. In addition, he said that they do not take out aircraft that are not in condition.
“Every 25 hours these helicopters are inspected. A maintenance program every 100 hours, 200 and 500 hours. Regarding that, I have no doubt that the aircraft is in perfect condition. We are very confident in the maintenance program, “he said.
It is worth mentioning that the same military do the maintenance service. They are trained by the North American, Brazilian and Argentine Air Forces. In other words, the service is not outsourced via public tenders.
The ships are used in fires, floods, as well as in operations of the Senad and the FTC according to the commander.
MARTENS
Juan Martens, doctor in criminology, pointed out that the Armed Forces do not fulfill social functions in our country. Even their constitutional roles due to lack of budget.
“It is time to rethink the work of the Armed Forces. Accidents are constant because they are obsolete vehicles. There are no conditions for the safe use of these instruments ”, he mentioned.
He noted that these vehicles are used only for practice. That makes us think as a society if it is convenient to continue maintaining these ancient devices because they put Paraguayans at risk.
BACKGROUND
At the beginning of February, the Paraguayan Air Force (FAP), carried out another accident. On that occasion, a Cessna 402 aircraft fell within the same military compound, leaving seven dead and one survivor (a young man named José Zaván) as an outcome.
In October 2020, one of the wheels of the plane where Cecilia Pérez, Minister of Justice, was on board, exploded. The Secretary of State highlighted the work of William Marín Ouebe, the pilot, so that the mishap did not end in tragedy. Regrettably, Marín Ouebe was one of those killed in the Cessna 402 incident, four months later.
