Panama helicopter downs aircraft in drugs chase
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Panama helicopter downs aircraft in drugs chase
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PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - A Panamanian air force helicopter on Sunday pursued
and shot down a light aircraft suspected of hauling drugs bound for the
United States, killing one person aboard and injuring the only other.
Panamanian officials said the plane was on a runway preparing for take-off
at a regional airport close to the border with Costa Rica when aviation
agents asked its pilot to remain on the ground.
The order was refused and the plane took off. A Panamanian helicopter gave
pursuit. Shots were fired at the light plane and it came down in a banana
plantation.
Local news media said the two aboard the plane were Mexican nationals, but
officials refused to confirm their nationalities. It was not immediately
clear what type of drugs the plane was carrying.
Officials were alerted to the plane after local residents warned of
irregular flights from the regional airport.
PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - A Panamanian air force helicopter on Sunday pursued
and shot down a light aircraft suspected of hauling drugs bound for the
United States, killing one person aboard and injuring the only other.
Panamanian officials said the plane was on a runway preparing for take-off
at a regional airport close to the border with Costa Rica when aviation
agents asked its pilot to remain on the ground.
The order was refused and the plane took off. A Panamanian helicopter gave
pursuit. Shots were fired at the light plane and it came down in a banana
plantation.
Local news media said the two aboard the plane were Mexican nationals, but
officials refused to confirm their nationalities. It was not immediately
clear what type of drugs the plane was carrying.
Officials were alerted to the plane after local residents warned of
irregular flights from the regional airport.
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Listen to the Report
According to the newspaper Panama América, 400 kilos of cocaine were seized from the aircraft, which was shot down by Servicio Aéreo Nacional (SAN) in Finca Jagua, in the borde zone of Barú.
The Panamanian pilot Justiniano Jaques Arrechiva, age 35, was the pilot and conducted the clandestine flight from Chiguagua, Mexico. He died from gunshot wounds by SAN agents.
The co-pilot, Marcos Edgar Rivera Tamayo has various bodily injuries.
The aircraft had departed from the private runway owned by a cooperative of Puerto Armuelles.
After three shots, the aircraft crashed into the banana plantation and the co-pilot tried to escape the scene of the crash. He made it as far as Finca Lechoza, asking for help and water, but later was delivered to authorities by the residents of the area.
Amongst other detainees are two panamanians, members of the private security company COOSEMUPAR, and two other panamanians who arrived in in a pick-up truck to refuel the aircraft and deliver the drugs to the aircraft.
According to the residents in the area, the first gunshots were heard at 1:00 pm, and after 30 minutes they heard the crash of the aircraft.
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All-tolled and in the grand scheme of things, little more than a minor victory in the ill-fated so-called "War on Drugs."
In exchange, in Latin America we live in an environment where small country airstrips are trenched and where a successful forced landing in a country field following an engine failure results in the local Feds being dispatched with AK-47's or M-16's on suspicion that another drug flight has landed (Article: Susto de Piloto Novato).
Entire governments, economies, and societies have been infiltrated by this scourage, while narcotics remain widely available on the streets of the United States and Europe. Really, the Cessna in question, and even the DC-9 seized in Mexico recently, are just the tip of the iceberg.
Both the "War on Drugs" and the so-called "War on Terror" are doomed to failure, despite the high cost both economically and on personal freedoms, in their current form. For meaningful results, a fresh new approach must be taken, and currently "tabu" and socially/politically unpalatable topics must be given serious consideration. In the case of the "War on Drugs", some form of controlled legalization, and in the case of the "War on Terror", a complete re-examination of foreign policy.
In exchange, in Latin America we live in an environment where small country airstrips are trenched and where a successful forced landing in a country field following an engine failure results in the local Feds being dispatched with AK-47's or M-16's on suspicion that another drug flight has landed (Article: Susto de Piloto Novato).
Entire governments, economies, and societies have been infiltrated by this scourage, while narcotics remain widely available on the streets of the United States and Europe. Really, the Cessna in question, and even the DC-9 seized in Mexico recently, are just the tip of the iceberg.
Both the "War on Drugs" and the so-called "War on Terror" are doomed to failure, despite the high cost both economically and on personal freedoms, in their current form. For meaningful results, a fresh new approach must be taken, and currently "tabu" and socially/politically unpalatable topics must be given serious consideration. In the case of the "War on Drugs", some form of controlled legalization, and in the case of the "War on Terror", a complete re-examination of foreign policy.
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
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"Both the "War on Drugs" and the so-called "War on Terror" are doomed to failure, despite the high cost both economically and on personal freedoms, in their current form. For meaningful results, a fresh new approach must be taken, and currently "tabu" and socially/politically unpalatable topics must be given serious consideration. In the case of the "War on Drugs", some form of controlled legalization, and in the case of the "War on Terror", a complete re-examination of foreign policy."
Another one throwing up his hands after seeing the failures continue. PJ may be right based on the way things are being done..
Controlled legalization is just a way of saying we cant control it, lets tax it..
The people of the world are not really ready for ways to seriously control these situations. How about maybe total legalization. Then no government services for those who get destroyed by their own hand. After a while many would disappear. The Government would eliminate the rest. Pretty harsh, but probably thought of.
An example is Iraq before the war. Saddam had everything in control. He just killed anyone who stepped out of line......and all their relatives.
As to Iraq etc. Let them sort out their own problems, those who survive are the winners......
Standing back to watch the gunfire.........
Another one throwing up his hands after seeing the failures continue. PJ may be right based on the way things are being done..
Controlled legalization is just a way of saying we cant control it, lets tax it..
The people of the world are not really ready for ways to seriously control these situations. How about maybe total legalization. Then no government services for those who get destroyed by their own hand. After a while many would disappear. The Government would eliminate the rest. Pretty harsh, but probably thought of.
An example is Iraq before the war. Saddam had everything in control. He just killed anyone who stepped out of line......and all their relatives.
As to Iraq etc. Let them sort out their own problems, those who survive are the winners......
Standing back to watch the gunfire.........
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Sure, you've got a point Bob. This is what the media called the second man in the airplane. I'm sure "loadmaster" would have been a more appropriate title. 
In Latin America I've gotten out of single-engine Cessnas dressed in jeans and T-shirt, and been labled "Captain."
In Latin America I've gotten out of single-engine Cessnas dressed in jeans and T-shirt, and been labled "Captain."
