El Salvador is in mourning following a tragic helicopter crash that claimed the life of the country’s police chief, Mauricio Arriaza, along with eight others, including fugitive banker Manuel Coto.
The UH-1H military helicopter went down near Pasaquina, close to the Honduran border, shortly after takeoff on Sunday evening.
Police Director-General Arriaza was escorting Coto to San Salvador, the capital, after his arrest for allegedly embezzling $35 million from the COSAVI credit union.
Coto’s apprehension by Honduran authorities, as he attempted to flee to the U.S., followed a previous, erroneous announcement by Salvadorean officials in July claiming his detention in Panama.
Local reports suggest that a TV crew was also aboard the helicopter, documenting Coto’s transfer after his high-profile arrest. President Nayib Bukele expressed profound sorrow over the crash, praising Arriaza for his leadership in reducing El Salvador’s rampant gang violence. Bukele also hinted that the crash may not have been an accident and has called for a thorough investigation with international support.
The loss of Arriaza is a significant blow to the country’s security forces, as he was central to Bukele’s aggressive anti-gang strategy, which dramatically reduced the nation’s homicide rates. However, this crackdown has drawn criticism from human rights groups over alleged abuses.
Bukele has declared three days of national mourning, ordering flags to fly at half-mast, as El Salvador grapples with this devastating loss.
The death of Coto, a key figure in a major embezzlement case that has already seen 15 arrests, including his parents, complicates the investigation into the financial scandal.
Get instant and latest news updates via Our WhatsApp Community or Google News online channel.