Aviation News – The Peruvian Air Force (FAP) has confirmed that all 15 people on board a missing Mi-17 helicopter perished after the aircraft was located in the Caravelí province of Arequipa. The recovery of the wreckage follows an intensive search operation triggered when the aircraft lost contact during a flight on Sunday.
The Mi-17 transport helicopter was declared missing on the afternoon of February 22, approximately at 4:30 p. m., while traveling through the Pisco and Ica regions. After nearly 24 hours of uncertainty, specialized search and rescue teams consisting of special forces and police located the remains of the aircraft in the Chala Viejo area. Among the victims are four crew members and 11 passengers, with reports indicating that several victims were relatives of high-ranking FAP colonels.
The Mi-17 helicopter, a Russian-designed workhorse of the Peruvian fleet, is primarily used for transport and logistics in difficult terrain. The loss of this aircraft and its occupants marks a significant tragedy for the Peruvian Air Force, as the recovery mission transition from a rescue effort to a formal investigation into the crash site and flight conditions. Technical teams are now focused on securing the area to determine if weather or mechanical failure played a role in the accident.