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Four adults and one child were found alive after surviving nearly two days in alligator-infested waters following a plane crash in Bolivia.
On Friday, May 2, the five survivors were rescued after local fishermen discovered the wreckage of the small plane in Bolivia’s Amazonas region, approximately 48 hours after the aircraft was reported missing, according to Bolivian news outlets La Razón, Red Uno, and BBC News.
The plane had taken off from Baures in northern Bolivia on Wednesday, April 30, at noon, heading to the city of Trinidad.
Around an hour into the flight, the pilot reported “technical problems,” after which all contact with the aircraft was lost, as reported by La Razón.
A search and rescue operation was initiated on Thursday, May 1, to locate the missing passengers.
Among the survivors were three women, a child, and the 29-year-old pilot.
Wilson Avila, director of the Beni Department’s emergency operations center, told BBC News that the survivors were found in “excellent condition.”
The passengers were discovered “huddled together on the fuselage of the small plane” after surviving there for over 40 hours, according to Red Uno’s Instagram post.
In footage shared by the outlet, emergency responders are seen transporting the survivors to helicopters on stretchers after the rescue.
The Ministry of Defense issued a statement, saying, “On Friday, May 2, at 7:20 a.m., an Eco Charlie EC-145 helicopter departed from Santa Cruz de la Sierra. The helicopter, equipped with a crane, tracking technology, and specialized SAR-FAB (Bolivian Air Force Search and Rescue Service) equipment, headed to the municipality of Baures. The search efforts were further intensified in the area previously covered by earlier flights.”
A combination of aerial operations and ground tracking led to the discovery of the missing aircraft.
Pilot Andres Velarde explained that the plane experienced engine failure, forcing him to make an emergency landing. He attempted to land near the Itanomas River but, as the plane lost altitude, he was compelled to land in a swamp.
The five individuals remained on top of the plane to stay safe from the alligators.
Pilot Velarde told BBC News that they were “surrounded by alligators that came within three meters of us.”
He explained, “We couldn’t drink water, and there was nowhere else to go because of the alligators.”
Velarde believes the alligators kept their distance due to petrol leaking from the plane into the water.
Ruben Torres, director of the Beni Region Health Department, expressed his relief, saying, “I’m really happy because, in the end, all the institutions came together to find the missing people and save their lives.”
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