Former Chilean President Sebastian Piñera died in a helicopter crash on Tuesday night while traveling to southern Chile with three of his surviving family members.
Mr. Piñera, 74, has so far been the only center-right president since Chile returned to democracy at the end of Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship, serving in two terms: 2010-2014 and 2018-2022. He served as president.
Former Chilean president reportedly Chilean businessman pilots helicopter that takes off from home and crashes Jose Cox Tuesday afternoon, after sharing a meal. Piñera was accompanied by her sister Magdalena, her son-in-law Ignacio Guerrero, and Guerrero’s son.
Initial reports said the helicopter took off in rainy and foggy weather conditions and crashed minutes later into a lake near the southern town of Lago Lanco. Piñera was reportedly unable to unbuckle his seatbelt and the helicopter sank. The three survivors were able to swim to shore and were rescued by local security guards and members of the Emergency Medical Services (SAMU). Piñera’s body was recovered from the bottom of the lake and taken by Chilean navy boat.
local media report Magdalena Piñera, who survived the crash, said the former president’s last words to her Wednesday morning as he piloted the helicopter were: “You jump first. It will fall on all of us.” try to save their lives.
Heroico hasta el final.@KarlaEnAccion: “I declare the proclamation of President Piñera… I look forward to the best palabras of President Fueron.” Frog Encima.” pic.twitter.com/OSSgnsjf0g
— Pablo Lira R. (@pablolirar) February 7, 2024
Magdalena Piñera explained Her brother was “a great man, very generous, very brave.”
🔴 The first eruption of the “big man” Magdalena Piñera, the emergency contraceptive of Sebastián Piñera, the cuandose produjo el accident of the helicopter, the possible accident of Ignacio Guerrero Su Hijo Bautista. pic.twitter.com/Md0dkhHAFm
— Meganoticias (@meganoticiascl) February 7, 2024
Former President Piñera was then vacation in Bahia Coique with his four sons and some of his nine grandchildren. Piñera frequently flew his own helicopter.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric dealt with The nation announced Piñera’s death on Tuesday, expressed condolences to Piñera’s family and declared a three-day mourning period in honor of the late former president.
“I have directed that former President Sebastián Piñera be accorded state funeral honors and ordered three days of national mourning in memory of the twice-elected President of Chile,” Boric announced.
Mr. Borich went on to say a few words about his predecessor.
Based on his vision, President Piñera helped build a great agreement for the benefit of the country. He has been a democrat from the beginning, and he has done what he believes is best for the country, for example when he worked to rebuild the country after the February 27, 2010 earthquake, or when he took risks. I sincerely pursued this. With great determination and boldness, he rescued his 33 miners at the San José mine, and more recently also worked to manage the pandemic in a time of global uncertainty.
The Chilean president met with former Chilean presidents Eduardo Frei, Ricardo Lagos and Michelle Bachelet, and said they would all “do everything in their power” to take part in the state funeral.
“‘Chile is all of us and we have to dream it, draw it and build it among all of us,’ said Sebastián Piñera, inaugurated for his second term as president on March 11, 2018. ”Borich concluded.
Sebastian Piñera was Businessman, commercial engineer, Harvard graduate. He also served as a professor of economics at several universities in Chile, after which from 1990 he served as a senator until 1998.
File/Chilean President Sebastian Pinilla announced on Wednesday, October 30, 2019, that the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Forum, APEC, and Climate Change COP25 meeting to be held at the La Moneda presidential palace in Santiago, Chile, has been canceled. (Ramon Monroy/His ATON via AP)
Piñera’s body transported Piñera’s family requested private time for a private ceremony there Wednesday morning.
The doors of the hall will be opened to the public on Wednesday afternoon to begin the vigil. The vigil continues until Thursday.
On Friday, the coffin will be taken in a procession to the Chilean presidential palace, where it will be eulogized by President Gabriel Boric, before being taken to Santiago Cathedral, where a funeral mass will be celebrated by Santiago Archbishop Fernando. Chomari. Piñera’s remains will then be taken to Huechulaba’s Parque del Recuerdo cemetery for funeral and burial.
Christian K. Caruso is a Venezuelan writer who chronicles life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter here.
