Seven dead in helicopter crash in Argentina
A Bell 412 helicopter crashed during a training mission in Argentina’s Ischigualasto Provincial Park
ATT Desk Report 
Seven people have died in a helicopter crash in the Andes Mountains in Argentina. The helicopter crew was on a training mission which lost contact with air control shortly after taking off in the Ischigualasto Provincial Park, a Unesco World Heritage site in San Juan, on Wednesday, reports Great Britain News.
The aircraft, a Bell 412 helicopter, lost contact at 10.26am local time near the border with La Rioja province. Argentinian authorities searched through the more than 100,000-acre national park and finally found the aircraft at around 1:00 pm.
On board were members of the province’s firefighter and police forces, Marcelo Orrego, the Governor of San Juan said on social media.
The dead officials were Carlos Heredia, director of Civil Protection; General Commissioner Germán Videla, deputy chief of the San Juan Police; General Commissioner Rubén Castro, chief of Firefighters; and Inspector Commissioner Jorge Carbajal, deputy chief of Firefighters.
“We also stand with the families of Matías Valenzuela, the aircraft pilot, and of the AFE firefighters Andrés Bosch and Rodrigo Aimetta,” the Governor of San Juan added.
As a consequence of the accident, the Ischigualasto Provincial Park announced on its social media accounts the suspension of all activities planned for Wednesday “for reasons beyond its control”.
Another aircraft operating in the area managed to locate the crash site and alerted the authorities, who launched an emergency operation. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
Rescue teams were dispatched to the area, which was described by local media as remote and particularly difficult to access.
