A Chilean Air Force plane has been pictured in flames after it crashed as a huge search operation is launched to find the two pilots. The Pillán T-35 aircraft came down on Wednesday morning in Chile’s Coquimbo region after reportedly suffering an engine problem while flying north through the country.
Local media reported the plane had taken off from El Bosque Air Base in Santiago and was heading towards Antofagasta when it got into difficulty around 20 miles from La Serena. Dramatic images from the scene showed the aircraft engulfed in flames after crashing in El Maray, a town in the Quebrada Honda region.
Emergency services rushed to the area amid fears for those on board, with multiple rescue teams deployed to locate the aircraft and its crew.
Despite the severity of the crash, both pilots survived and were later found safe and in good health. Fire officials confirmed the pair managed to escape.
The Chilean Air Force confirmed the aircraft belonged to the Aviation School “Captain Manuel Avalos Prado” and said an investigation had been launched into the cause of the incident.
In a statement, the force said: “The crew have not been injured with no physical problems and nobody has been harmed on the ground. The Chilean Air Force is investigating the cause of the incident.”
“It carried out the necessary procedures while it was flying to the north of the country. The crew have not been injured with no physical problems and nobody has been harmed on the ground. The Chilean Air Force is investigating the cause of the incident.”
