According to Chilean government sources speaking to La Tercera, the former president met his demise in a crash around 3 p.m. local time. Emergency responders rushed to the helicopter crash site, which had been carrying four passengers, but regrettably, only three survived the tragic incident.
A former advisor to Pinera confirmed to Reuters the unfortunate news of the former president’s passing.
The sequence of events unfolded as Pinera had gone for lunch at the residence of businessman José Cox when the accident transpired.
Breaking News: Former Chilean President Sebastian Pinera Dies at 74 in Helicopter Crash (Credits: France 24)
Chilean national disaster agency SENAPRAD verified the occurrence of a helicopter crash in the southern town of Lago Ranco.
Pinera’s tenure encompassed two terms, from 2010 to 2014 and then from 2018 to 2022. He stood out as one of the few right-leaning presidents in Chilean history, known for his firm stance against corruption and organized crime.
Throughout his political campaign, Pinera advocated for the application of business acumen to governmental operations to enhance efficiency.
The former president, born to a distinguished political family, pursued economics studies at Harvard University and introduced credit card systems to the nation in the 1980s. He divested his substantial stake in Latam Airlines before assuming office in 2010 to preempt potential conflicts of interest.
