At around 2:45 in the afternoon this Sunday, the authorities reported the accident of an Army helicopter that was carrying out a cruise flight process in the vicinity of Quibdó, in the department of Chocó.
It may interest you: Four soldiers die in the fall of an Army helicopter in Chocó
In a recording made by citizens of Quibdó, it is seen how the EJC 4227 UH1N registration aircraft falls to the ground. the president himself Gustavo Petro reported on his Twitter account that the helicopter was carrying out supply work.
“I have given the order to the authorities to move immediately to the area to deal with the emergency and investigate the causes of what happened,” said the president.
Four Army soldiers died in the incident. “You can see two completely burned bodies, and we are looking for the other two because, according to the community, while the aircraft was falling, they were thrown away,” explained the colonel Héctor Alfonso Candelario, Commander of the Joint Task Force
RCN Radio confirmed that there were four crew members on the device: Major Héctor Jerez, Lieutenant Julieth García and Sergeants Johan Orozco and Rubén Leguizamón.
The Army released the life story of the uniformed officers who died:
Captain Hector Mauricio Jerez Ochoa
He was born in the municipality of San Andrésdepartment of Santander, on May 18, 1990. After 13 years of service, he entered the Military School in January 2009 and was promoted to second lieutenant in December 2011; He was from the Air Force, a rotary wing pilot, a professional in Military Sciences, a logistics administrator and a specialist in Military Sciences for Planning.
He was currently working as a UH-1N BELL212 helicopter pilot with specialized training in the US for this class of aircraft. He had been awarded 6 badges, including Lancer, Military Paratrooper, Combat Advanced and Military Pilot, as well as decorations and recognitions such as distinguished service medals for operations against drug trafficking.
Lieutenant Julieth Girleza Garcia Cordero
A 31-year-old native of Cúcuta, Norte de Santander, enrolled in the Military Cadet School in 2012 and rose to the rank of second lieutenant in 2015.
Since she began her military career, she stood out for being a disciplined officer, with a positive attitude to meet the needs of the service, which is why in June 2019 she was the first military woman to take the pilot course for the UH1N helicopter.
The lieutenant Julieth Girleza García was in 2020 the first female pilot of the National Army in the UH1N helicoptertoday he was fulfilling the constitutional mission, carrying out supply tasks for the troops in the department of Chocó.
Second Sergeant Johan Andrés Orozco Neira
Aged 31, he was a native of Barranquilla, Atlantic; He entered the Military School for NCOs in March 2008 and was promoted to the rank of third corporal in September 2009. He was married with two children.
During his military career, he stood out for his spirit of service and constant preparation, which led him to undertake studies and courses such as: Quick Rope Master, Lancer, Aeronautical Maintenance, Aeronautical English, Group Leader, UH-1 crew member. During his more than 14 years At the service of the institution, he was decorated on different occasions with the Military Valor medal, the Distinguished Service medal in Aviation Operations and the Bicentennial of the Liberation Campaign, among others.
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Second Sergeant Rubén Ricardo Bartolomé Leguizamón Perilla
Had 35 years old, born in the city of Bogotá, He entered the Military School for NCOs in 2009. Married with a four-year-old son.
Sergeant Leguizamón had training as a UH-1N flight crew member, as well as Human Rights and IHL. In 2021, his outstanding work in Army Aviation was recognized with the Distinguished Service in Aviation Operations medal.
