Helicopter Crash Kills 15, Including 7 Minors

A routine disaster-response flight turned into one of Peru’s deadliest military aviation tragedies in recent memory.

Fifteen people — including seven children — were killed when a Peruvian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter went down along the country’s rugged southern coastline, officials confirmed Monday.

The aircraft vanished from radar Sunday afternoon while traveling from Lima to the Arequipa region, an area battered in recent weeks by flooding and landslides that have crippled parts of the Pan-American Highway.

By sunrise, there were no survivors.

The Russian-made Mi-17 helicopter was expected to land at a military base in Arequipa around 4:20 p.m. local time. Instead, its final radio transmission came near the coastal city of Chala.

Minutes later, its SkyRouter tracking system froze in a fixed position east of town, near the remote village of Chala Vieja.

That was the moment commanders knew something was wrong.

“We immediately declared an emergency and activated search-and-rescue protocols,” Air Force Operations Commander Lt. Gen. Gregorio César Mendiola Lomparte said during a somber press conference.

Ground patrols, backed by Peru’s National Police, navigated steep, mountainous terrain through the night. At approximately 6:30 a.m. Monday, they located the wreckage.

“Unfortunately, we have no survivors,” Mendiola said bluntly. “Recovery efforts are ongoing, and we are working with families during this painful time.”

Among the 15 victims were four crew members:

Major Sergio Danner Paucar Centurión
First Lieutenant Luis Fernando Huertas Cárcamo
First Class Petty Officer Kamila Chapi Anchapuri Jove
Second Class Petty Officer Leiner Aguirre Huamán

The remaining 11 passengers were civilians. Seven were minors, ranging in age from just 3 years old to 17.

Officials did not immediately release the identities of the civilian victims, but confirmed they were authorized to travel aboard the military transport flight.

“It is standard practice for civilians assisting with or affected by emergency operations to be transported on logistical missions,” an Air Force spokesperson explained.

The helicopter was not on a combat mission. It was part of ongoing search-and-rescue and disaster-response operations in southern Peru, where seasonal storms have triggered mudslides and severe flooding.

Entire communities have been cut off. Sections of the Pan-American Highway — a critical artery linking Peru’s coastline — have been severely damaged.

Military aircraft like the Mi-17 are routinely used in Peru to move personnel, deliver supplies and evacuate residents in hard-to-reach areas.

Air Force officials said the helicopter underwent a major inspection in November 2024. It had logged 287 flight hours since that overhaul. Its next scheduled major inspection was set for 2031.

Those details will now be examined closely.

An official accident investigation board has been activated. Investigators are expected to analyze flight data, maintenance records, weather conditions and possible mechanical failure.

Peru has relied heavily on Mi-17 helicopters for decades, especially in remote and mountainous regions where few aircraft can safely operate.

But this crash is likely to raise fresh questions about maintenance, oversight and risk — particularly when civilians and children are involved.

News of the crash spread quickly across Peru, with tributes pouring in on social media. Local officials described the loss as “devastating.”

For families awaiting loved ones who never returned, the tragedy is deeply personal.

“The focus now is recovery and answers,” Lt. Gen. Mendiola said. “We owe that to the victims and to the country.”

The investigation is ongoing.