Mexico - 11 killed in helicopter incident
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Mexico - 11 killed in helicopter incident
AP Report
Helicopter crashes on drug-fighting mission in Mexico
MEXICO CITY
MEXICO CITY
- An anti-narcotics helicopter searching for gunmen protecting drug plantations crashed into a mountain in southern Mexico on Wednesday, killing all nine soldiers and two federal pilots onboard, authorities said.
What caused the crash was unclear, but the aircraft may have been attacked by drug smugglers on the ground, according to a statement released by the federal attorney general's office.
Trouble began in the isolated mountains near the town of Tlapa, about 210km southeast of Mexico City, shortly before noon, when a Bell 206 L-IV chopper carrying soldiers and investigators on a routine mission was hit by gunfire from the ground.
Bullets struck the helicopter along a baggage compartment and the pilot was able to land without incident at a nearby airstrip.
A second chopper, this one a Bell 212 carrying one military officer and eight soldiers as well two pilots from the attorney general's office, took off to find those who shot the first helicopter, but crashed around 2 p.m. near the village of Igualita, 35km southeast of Tlapa in Guerrero state, the statement said.
Investigators were working to determine what caused the crash and the statement said gusty winds and limited visibility in the area may have played roles.
But it said authorities "have not ruled out in any way the possibility that the helicopter crash was the result of direct aggression of drug traffickers."
It added that the area around Tlapa was a hotbed for illegal drug crops where federal attorney general's office aircraft "have suffered the highest number of attacks with firearms and cable traps."
So far this year, federal attorney general's office helicopters on anti-narcotics missions have been attacked six times.
What caused the crash was unclear, but the aircraft may have been attacked by drug smugglers on the ground, according to a statement released by the federal attorney general's office.
Trouble began in the isolated mountains near the town of Tlapa, about 210km southeast of Mexico City, shortly before noon, when a Bell 206 L-IV chopper carrying soldiers and investigators on a routine mission was hit by gunfire from the ground.
Bullets struck the helicopter along a baggage compartment and the pilot was able to land without incident at a nearby airstrip.
A second chopper, this one a Bell 212 carrying one military officer and eight soldiers as well two pilots from the attorney general's office, took off to find those who shot the first helicopter, but crashed around 2 p.m. near the village of Igualita, 35km southeast of Tlapa in Guerrero state, the statement said.
Investigators were working to determine what caused the crash and the statement said gusty winds and limited visibility in the area may have played roles.
But it said authorities "have not ruled out in any way the possibility that the helicopter crash was the result of direct aggression of drug traffickers."
It added that the area around Tlapa was a hotbed for illegal drug crops where federal attorney general's office aircraft "have suffered the highest number of attacks with firearms and cable traps."
So far this year, federal attorney general's office helicopters on anti-narcotics missions have been attacked six times.
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This morning a guy came in, he requested we fly down to Tlapa (near Acapulco) and pick up 4 people and bring them back to Mexico City, he paid in cash 5,500.00 dolars in advance, as it turns out, the alleged passengers were detained as they were the suspects of the shoot down, and they couldn't leave by ground due to road blocks, and that's why they wanted a helicopter.
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Helicopter operations targeted by traffickers
Mexico City - While investigators have yet to reach a conclusion for the helicopter crash that took the lives of 11 soldiers and federal agents last Wednesday, evidence points to drug traffickers, underscoring the increasing dangers for authorities performing anti-drug operations in rural and lawless areas of the nation.
Since President Vicente Fox took office in 2000, [b]20 helicopters from the Attorney General's Office (PGR) have gone down and 18 of these have been attributed to direct attacks from narco-traffickers[/u].
Federal agents and their families grieved for the lost companions during a memorial ceremony on Saturday. Officials lamented the loss of life and praised the agents' bravery, adding that the risks during these operations are great.
Rubén Rivas Peña, a senior PGR official, said rural areas of southern Guerrero state where the helicopter went down are especially dangerous.
He said that drug growers set up cable traps that can ensnare and bring down the low-flying helicopters as they search for the fields used to cultivate marijuana and opium poppies.
In addition, the forest provides excellent cover for snipers trying to bring helicopters down. As if this weren't enough, tricky winds and low visibility also make the flights dangerous.
Last Wednesday's crash occurred in the isolated mountains near the town of Tlapa, about 130 miles southeast of Mexico City. According to information from PGR authorities, another federal helicopter flying in the area was hit earlier by gunfire from the ground. The pilot of that first chopper was able to land without incident at a nearby airstrip. The second chopper, a Bell 212 carrying a military officer, eight soldiers and two PGR pilots, took off to find the gunmen, but crashed into a mountain for unknown reasons.
Two helicopters crashed in Guerrero after coming under fire from drug traffickers in March of 2003, killing a total of five agents.
Mexico City - While investigators have yet to reach a conclusion for the helicopter crash that took the lives of 11 soldiers and federal agents last Wednesday, evidence points to drug traffickers, underscoring the increasing dangers for authorities performing anti-drug operations in rural and lawless areas of the nation.
Since President Vicente Fox took office in 2000, [b]20 helicopters from the Attorney General's Office (PGR) have gone down and 18 of these have been attributed to direct attacks from narco-traffickers[/u].
Federal agents and their families grieved for the lost companions during a memorial ceremony on Saturday. Officials lamented the loss of life and praised the agents' bravery, adding that the risks during these operations are great.
Rubén Rivas Peña, a senior PGR official, said rural areas of southern Guerrero state where the helicopter went down are especially dangerous.
He said that drug growers set up cable traps that can ensnare and bring down the low-flying helicopters as they search for the fields used to cultivate marijuana and opium poppies.
In addition, the forest provides excellent cover for snipers trying to bring helicopters down. As if this weren't enough, tricky winds and low visibility also make the flights dangerous.
Last Wednesday's crash occurred in the isolated mountains near the town of Tlapa, about 130 miles southeast of Mexico City. According to information from PGR authorities, another federal helicopter flying in the area was hit earlier by gunfire from the ground. The pilot of that first chopper was able to land without incident at a nearby airstrip. The second chopper, a Bell 212 carrying a military officer, eight soldiers and two PGR pilots, took off to find the gunmen, but crashed into a mountain for unknown reasons.
Two helicopters crashed in Guerrero after coming under fire from drug traffickers in March of 2003, killing a total of five agents.
