A pilot has died after a Navy helicopter crashed into a lake during a supply operation.
The chopper was transporting four servicemen at the time of the crash.
The pilot reportedly fainted in the cockpit after the helicopter encountered a technical problem.
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The crew was carrying out a supply operation for troops based in the area of Montes de María in northern Colombia.
But the Bell 412EP chopper encountered a sudden loss of power just after takeoff yesterday (29 Apr).
After the pilot allegedly fainted, the helicopter crashed into a lake situated on the grounds of the 13th Marine Infantry Battalion in Malagana.
The four crew members, two officers and two non-commissioned officers, were rescued from the wreckage.
The pilot, named Second Class Petty Officer Yordi Steven Carvajal Rodríguez, died shortly after arriving at the hospital.
The victim had served in the Navy for 13 years, as reported by Need To Know.
The surviving crew members are being treated at Mahates Hospital.
A military spokesperson said: “The Bell 412EP helicopter of the Naval Aviation service, which was carrying out a supply mission to units based in the Montes de María region, after taking off from the Command Post of the 13th Marine Infantry Battalion in Malagana, lost altitude and crashed into a body of water near the takeoff site.
“Second Class Petty Officer Yordi Steven Carvajal Rodríguez died minutes later at Mahates Hospital in Bolívar.”
Defence Minister Pedro Arnulfo Sánchez said the victim was a “young marine who gave his life in the line of duty with courage and commitment”.
He added: “His dedication honours the flag he swore to protect.
“In his memory, we reaffirm our commitment to those who, like him, defend Colombia from every corner of the country.”
The Navy said it has assembled a specialist team to carry out a full investigation into the cause of the crash.
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