Bogota, September 30: Eight people were killed after a Colombian Air Force helicopter crashed during a humanitarian mission in the eastern department of Vichada, said President Gustavo Petro. Petro offered "a hug of solidarity" for the bereaved families as the country mourns the deceased in the tragedy, according to the president's social media account on X.

Earlier, the Colombian Air Force said that the Huey II helicopter, with registration number FAC-4441, had lost contact while on a medical mission on Sunday morning, reports Xinhua news agency. Search and rescue operations were immediately launched after the crash. Pakistan Chopper Crash: 6 Dead, 10 Injured After MPCL Mi-8 Helicopter Crashes in Oilfield Shortly After Takeoff in North Waziristan.

Local media reported that the victims included several officers and technicians. Preliminary investigations show that bad weather could be the primary cause of the crash.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 30, 2024 03:37 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).