Four missing children have been found alive after a plane crash in the Colombian jungle more than two weeks ago.
The Cessna 206 light aircraft operated by Avianline Charters went missing as it flew from Araracuara to San Jose del Guaviare on 1st May.
The Colombian Civil Aviation Authority (Aerocivil) said in a statement: “After more than 370 hours of continuous search work, the Cessna 206 aircraft with registration HK 2803, which had been reported missing on 1st May, was found yesterday, Monday.”
The bodies of the pilot and two passengers were found close to the wreckage on 16th May, Aerocivil revealed.
The victims were identified as Herman Mendoza Hernandez, co-pilot and indigenous leader; Magdalena Mucutuy Valencia, the children’s mother; and the pilot, Hernando Murcia Morales.
However, four passengers – three children and a baby – remained unaccounted for, so the search continued.
There was cause for celebration when Colombian President Gustavo Petro tweeted on 17th May: “After arduous search efforts by our Military Forces, we have found the four children who had gone missing due to the air crash in Guaviare alive. A joy for the country.”
Local media identified the survivors as Lesly Jacobombaire Mucutuy, 13; Soleiny Jacobombaire Mucutuy, nine; Tien Noriel Ronoque Mucutuy, four; and 11 month-old Cristin Neriman Ranoque Mucutuy.
According to the initial report received by President Petro, the four were “in good health”.
Fatima, the children’s grandmother, told local media: “We don’t know much, they tell us that the children were found by a peasant and a fellow countryman.”
Although she lost her daughter Magdalena in the plane crash, she hopes that her grandchildren will return home.
She said: “As their family, I want them to come here.”
The survivors were due to arrive in the town of Cachiporro at 5pm on 17th May.
Before finding the aircraft, rescue teams had found a baby bottle and a recently-bitten fruit miles away.
And after finding the aircraft, other signs that the young passengers might still be alive had appeared nearby.
Colonel Juan Jose Lopez, Director of Air Navigation at Aerocivil, said at the time: “We assume that the children who were inside the aircraft are alive. We have found some traces in a different position and distance from where the aircraft was left.
“We have also found a possible place where the children could have taken shelter, and we continue the search.”
And Aerocivil said: “The special forces commandos found an open bag, cosmetics, footwear, and items that would provide clues and hopes to continue the search.”
The search, which included military personnel and several sniffer dogs, had been hampered by bad weather.
President Petro had previously tweeted: “The search for the missing children in the plane crash in the Apaporis River must continue by air and land.”
