[kellyhound]

On September 15, 2019, a tragic plane crash occurred near the southwestern Colombian city of Popayan, claiming the lives of seven of the nine passengers on board. The small plane, operated by a local company and registered as a Piper PA31 with the tail number HK5229, was headed from Popayan to Lopez de Micay in the Cauca department when the accident happened.

The incident took place just minutes after takeoff from Guillermo Leon Valencia Airport in Popayan, a city of approximately 270,000 people surrounded by mountains. The plane crashed at 2:11 pm local time, shortly after leaving the airport.

Popayan Mayor Cesar Gomez confirmed that seven people aboard the aircraft were killed in the crash. Two other passengers survived but were injured and taken to a hospital for treatment. Additionally, a child on the ground in the area where the plane crashed was also injured.

The crash resulted in significant damage to the residential area, with photographs and videos on social media showing parts of the airplane scattered over homes. Mayor Gomez organized a working group to provide assistance to those affected by the crash.

Colombia’s civil aviation authority launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. The crash highlighted the risks associated with air travel in mountainous regions and underscored the importance of stringent safety measures in aviation.

[durt]

Surprising that anyone survived!