File photo taken on Feb. 29, 2024 shows Mauricio Arriaza Chicas (C), director of the National Civil Police (PNC) of El Salvador, attending an event in San Salvador, El Salvador. A Salvadoran Air Force helicopter crashed on Sunday evening, killing nine people, including National Civil Police Director Mauricio Arriaza Chicas, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele said on Monday. Bukele said in a statement on social media platform X that the helicopter went down in La Union Province while on a mission near the El Salvador-Honduras border. (Photo by Alexander Peña/Xinhua)
SAN SALVADOR, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- A Salvadoran Air Force helicopter crashed on Sunday evening, killing nine people, including National Civil Police Director Mauricio Arriaza Chicas, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele said on Monday.
Bukele said in a statement on social media platform X that the helicopter went down in La Union Province while on a mission near the El Salvador-Honduras border.
Among the nine casualties were the national police chief, other police officers, crew members, a journalist, and a criminal suspect.
Aboard the helicopter was Manuel Coto, a former bank director, who had been accused of involvement in the embezzlement of 35 million U.S. dollars from a credit union in El Salvador, local media reported.
Bukele declared a three-day national mourning period.
He said the incident was not merely an "accident" and called for a thorough investigation into the cause, pledging that those responsible would be held accountable. Bukele added that El Salvador would seek international assistance in the investigation. ■
File photo taken on Feb. 29, 2024 shows Mauricio Arriaza Chicas (C), director of the National Civil Police (PNC) of El Salvador, attending an event in San Salvador, El Salvador. A Salvadoran Air Force helicopter crashed on Sunday evening, killing nine people, including National Civil Police Director Mauricio Arriaza Chicas, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele said on Monday. Bukele said in a statement on social media platform X that the helicopter went down in La Union Province while on a mission near the El Salvador-Honduras border. (Photo by Alexander Peña/Xinhua)
Photo taken on Sept. 9, 2024 shows El Salvadoran national flags flying at half-mast to mourn for victims of a helicopter crash in San Salvador, El Salvador. A Salvadoran Air Force helicopter crashed on Sunday evening, killing nine people, including National Civil Police Director Mauricio Arriaza Chicas, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele said on Monday. Bukele said in a statement on social media platform X that the helicopter went down in La Union Province while on a mission near the El Salvador-Honduras border. (Photo by Alexander Peña/Xinhua)
Photo taken on Sept. 9, 2024 shows El Salvadoran national flags flying at half-mast to mourn for victims of a helicopter crash in San Salvador, El Salvador. A Salvadoran Air Force helicopter crashed on Sunday evening, killing nine people, including National Civil Police Director Mauricio Arriaza Chicas, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele said on Monday. Bukele said in a statement on social media platform X that the helicopter went down in La Union Province while on a mission near the El Salvador-Honduras border. (Photo by Alexander Peña/Xinhua)
