Plane in Chile hits power grid and explodes; pilot died

A forest firefighting plane lost control after hitting a power pole with one of its wings and exploding in the air on a highway in Chile. Images circulating on social media show the moment of the collision.

The accident occurred on Monday (15 January 2024), in Talca, and, according to the newspaper Cooperative, left 1 dead and 4 injured. The fatal victim was the pilot of the aircraft, identified as Fernando Solans Robles.

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Robles worked for Conaf (National Forestry Corporation). In a statement, the institution reported that he was the pilot of the Turbo Trush model plane, operated by the company Air Andes SPA, which provides services to Conaf.

The institution also offered its condolences to the victim’s family and said that it is actively working with the authorities investigating the accident and will collaborate as much as possible to help the “clarify the causes and circumstances” of what happened.

In your profile not X (former Twitter), the president of Chile, Gabriel Boric, mourned Robles’ death, declared all his support for Conaf employees and stated that “preventing a forest fire is much easier than fighting it”.

“Every year, thousands of people take on the difficult but noble task of fighting forest fires […] My respects and deepest condolences to your family and loved ones.”he wrote.