![]() An IAI Arava of the Honduran Air Force, similar to the crashed aircraft | |
Accident | |
---|---|
Date | 15 March 2016 |
Summary | Crashed into high ground, poor weather |
Site | Hacienda La Palmira,
Pastaza, Ecuador 1°26′0″S 77°59′0″W / 1.43333°S 77.98333°W |
Aircraft | |
Aircraft type | IAI Arava 201 |
Operator | Ecuadorian Army |
Registration | E-206 |
Flight origin | Río Amazonas Airport, Ecuador |
Occupants | 22 |
Passengers | 19 |
Crew | 3 |
Fatalities | 22 |
Survivors | 0 |
On 15 March 2016, an IAI Arava transport aircraft of the Ecuadorian Army crashed in the eastern part of the country. [1] [2] [3] The accident is the deadliest involving an IAI Arava, [4] and the single deadliest incident suffered by the Ecuadorian military.
The Arava plane took off from the Río Amazonas military airport in Shell in Pastaza Province at 12:51 local time. It was carrying 19 Ecuadorian paratroopers belonging to the 9th Special Forces ('Patria') Brigade, for a skydiving exercise; as well as 3 crew members (2 pilots and a mechanic). The pilot had reportedly asked for permission to return to the airport due to adverse weather conditions shortly before contact was lost with the aircraft. [5] [6] [7] The aircraft crashed at 14:30 local time in a mountainous area, killing all 22 on board. [4]
Two Ecuadorian Air Force helicopters and ground patrols were dispatched to search for the missing plane, and the flight debris was located near the Fátima peak of Hacienda La Palmira. [6] [8]
Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa described the accident as a "tragedy" to the armed forces. [6]
![]() An IAI Arava of the Honduran Air Force, similar to the crashed aircraft | |
Accident | |
---|---|
Date | 15 March 2016 |
Summary | Crashed into high ground, poor weather |
Site | Hacienda La Palmira,
Pastaza, Ecuador 1°26′0″S 77°59′0″W / 1.43333°S 77.98333°W |
Aircraft | |
Aircraft type | IAI Arava 201 |
Operator | Ecuadorian Army |
Registration | E-206 |
Flight origin | Río Amazonas Airport, Ecuador |
Occupants | 22 |
Passengers | 19 |
Crew | 3 |
Fatalities | 22 |
Survivors | 0 |
On 15 March 2016, an IAI Arava transport aircraft of the Ecuadorian Army crashed in the eastern part of the country. [1] [2] [3] The accident is the deadliest involving an IAI Arava, [4] and the single deadliest incident suffered by the Ecuadorian military.
The Arava plane took off from the Río Amazonas military airport in Shell in Pastaza Province at 12:51 local time. It was carrying 19 Ecuadorian paratroopers belonging to the 9th Special Forces ('Patria') Brigade, for a skydiving exercise; as well as 3 crew members (2 pilots and a mechanic). The pilot had reportedly asked for permission to return to the airport due to adverse weather conditions shortly before contact was lost with the aircraft. [5] [6] [7] The aircraft crashed at 14:30 local time in a mountainous area, killing all 22 on board. [4]
Two Ecuadorian Air Force helicopters and ground patrols were dispatched to search for the missing plane, and the flight debris was located near the Fátima peak of Hacienda La Palmira. [6] [8]
Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa described the accident as a "tragedy" to the armed forces. [6]