Sebastián Piñera, who served as the President of Chile on two occasions, has tragically passed away at the age of 74 in a helicopter crash. The incident occurred as Piñera was piloting the helicopter himself, and it crashed near his residence in Bahia Coique, by Lake Ranco, approximately 900 kilometers south of Santiago.
The former president, known for his significant experience as a pilot, was reportedly on vacation with his wife, Cecilia Morel, and some of their four children and nine grandchildren. The helicopter was carrying a total of four people, and the three passengers sustained injuries in the crash.
Sebastián Piñera made history as the first right-wing president elected through popular vote after the era of Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship. He held the presidency from 2010 to 2014 and then again from 2018 to 2022.
The news of Piñera’s untimely death has been confirmed by his office, prompting an outpouring of condolences from various quarters. The government, led by current leftist President Gabriel Boric, expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident. Minister of Interior Carolina Tohá announced that Piñera would receive all the honors and recognitions befitting a former head of state, with a state funeral and national mourning declared in his honor.
The loss of Sebastián Piñera marks the end of an era for Chile, and the nation mourns the passing of a political figure who played a pivotal role in its recent history.