Former Chilean President Sebastián Piñera Has Died In A Helicopter Crash

Former Chilean President Sebastián Piñera has died in a helicopter crash. The helicopter that Piñera was traveling in crashed in a rural area in southern Chile. Piñera was one of four passengers in a helicopter when it crashed in the town of Lake Rancho. Lake Rancho is located 460 miles south of Chilean capital Santiago.

Piñera was a billionaire businessman who served as Chile’s President for two non-consecutive terms. He was in office March 11, 2010-March 11, 2014, and March 11, 2018-Match 11, 2022. He led Chile during devastating natural disasters, including an earthquake and a tsunami.

His time in power was marked by police repression against protestors who were demonstrating against Chile’s education, health and pension systems. The unrest led to two attempts to update the constitution, but both failed.

While not from the most geopolitically relevant area of the world, the protests against his Chilean government made headlines around the world. His government’s rescue of 33 trapped Chilean miners also made worldwide headlines. Piñera leaves behind a complicated legacy that Chileans will argue about for years to come.

Piñera ran as a center right politician, and lost the 2005-06 Chilean general election to Michelle Bachelet, before winning the 2009-10 election. Term limited from standing in the 2013 Chilean election, Piñera came back and won the 2017 election. In this election, Piñera ran as an independent candidate supported by the center-right coalition Chile Vamos.

The details of the nature of Piñera’s death are yet to be fully seen. But no matter the details or the conflicted nature of his time as Chile’s President, it is a given that this is a tragic day for Chile. Former Chilean President Sebastián Piñera has died in a helicopter crash. Now is a time for all people to mourn and send their well wishes to Chile.