Former President Sebastián Piñera dies in helicopter accident

07-02-24

The country is in mourning after the tragic death of former President Sebastián Piñera, who lost his life in a plane crash last Tuesday at 2:47 pm. The unfortunate incident took place when the former president was returning from a visit to his friend, the well-known businessman José Cox, personally piloting his helicopter. The aircraft, a Robinson R44 of his own, had barely advanced a few meters when it suddenly lost control, plunging near the shore in the Ilihue Sector, located in the Lago Ranco commune.

The accident mobilized various emergency services, including the Navy, Fire Department, Carabineros and the Emergency Medical Attention Service (Samu), who were deployed at the site for the rescue work. Sebastián Piñera, who was 74 years old and had extensive experience in helicopter piloting, was traveling with three people, presumably family members, who miraculously managed to survive after unfastening their seat belts and escaping from the aircraft before it plunged approximately 40 meters into the water. Unfortunately, the former President did not manage to free himself in time, resulting in his drowning.

The news of Piñera's death has shocked the nation, leading the Minister of the Interior, Carolina Tohá, to issue an official statement from La Moneda Palace. In an emotional message, Tohá extended the Government's condolences to the family of the deceased and to the entire country, announcing that, on the instructions of President Gabriel Boric, a state funeral will be held in honor of the former president, accompanied by a period of national mourning. This gesture seeks to reflect the deep respect for the figure of Piñera and his contribution to the country, recognizing his role and legacy as a national leader.

The investigation into the exact causes of the accident is ongoing, with the relevant authorities analyzing all factors that may have contributed to the tragedy. This event has reminded everyone of the importance of air transport safety and has united the country in a moment of reflection and mourning for the loss of one of its most prominent leaders.

Businessman and politician

A prominent businessman and politician, he was born in Santiago de Chile on December 1, 1949. From an early age, he directed his interests towards business and politics with remarkable dedication. He is a graduate of the Faculty of Economics of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and holds a doctorate from Harvard University, credentials that opened doors for him to act as a consultant for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Bank. He also held the position of general manager at Banco de Talca and Citicorp Chile.

He was a pioneer in the introduction of credit cards in Chile, thanks to his company Bancard S.A., founded in 1979, which obtained the exclusive license to issue Visa and MasterCard cards, marking a milestone in the country's financial history.

His political career took off in 1990 when he was elected Senator of the Republic for the Santiago Oriente constituency, serving in this role until 1998. During this period, he ventured into the aviation industry by acquiring 16% of the shares of LAN Chile from the Scandinavian company SAS, a company that in 2005 would be renamed LAN Airlines and later, in 2012, would become part of LATAM Airlines Group. He came to own up to 26% of the airline's shares, which he sold in 2009 for US$1.1 billion before assuming the presidency of the country.

His diversified investments in sectors such as real estate, telecommunications and sports clubs, including Colo Colo and Universidad de Chile, allowed him to accumulate an estimated wealth of US$2.7 billion according to Forbes, consolidating his position as one of the most influential and prosperous figures in Chile.

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