On April 7, 2013, a Helicópteros del Pacífico (Helipac) Mil Mi-8PS with 13 aboard crashed near Perenco Oil in Peru.
There were four crew and nine passengers aboard—all Peruvian— when the flight crashed in the Napo River. Hernán Cervantes Paiva, Trider Pasmiño and Máximo Rolando Cuello have been identified.
The helicopter failed at 11:00 a.m.
Perenco Peru made a public announcement regarding the crash:
“Perenco Peru regrets to announce an accident involving a MI-8 (P 1916 OB) helicopter operated by HELIPAC. The helicopter came down with 13 passengers on board during a routine flight from Iquitos to Block 67. Those on the flight, all Peruvian nationals, comprised nine passengers and four crew members. The passengers included one Perenco employee and representatives of three contractors.
The Peruvian Army is at the scene and two additional helicopters are supporting the rescue efforts. At this stage, no survivors have been found.
The company is working closely with the relevant authorities and is providing what support it can to the families of those involved. “
Block 67 is a 630-square-mile (1,020-square-kilometer) block of more than 300 million barrels.
The Peruvian Air Force activated the System Search and Rescue (SistemaSAR), which mobilized National Search and Rescue Twin Otter aircraft to land in the water in Curaray with the rescue team.
