US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA6598

UNCLAS BOGOTA 006598 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR INL/LP 
 
E.O. 12358: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR, MOPS, MASS, CO 
SUBJECT: Four Dead, Two Helicopters Lost in Colombian 
Military Operations 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: Colombian Military forces lost four dead 
and two helicopters within a span of 48 hours.  On July 8, a 
Plan Colombia-provided UH1-HII (Huey II) operated by the 
Colombian Army crashed as a result of hostile fire, 
resulting in four fatalities, including one Colombian 
national employed by a U.S. contractor.  On July 10, a 
Colombian Air Force UH-60 helicopter made a hard landing and 
suffered severe damage.  There were no casualties reported 
as a result of this incident.  Both events are under 
investigation.  End summary. 
 
2. (SBU) On July 8, a Colombian Army UH1-HII helicopter that 
was part of a multi-ship gun support mission in Arauca 
Department (north east Colombia) came under enemy fire.  The 
aircraft reportedly received multiple impacts and then 
proceeded to return to its base at Saravena, Arauca 
Department.  When approximately 5.3 miles from Saravena (N 
06 52.06, W 071 49.16), the aircraft radioed that it was 
experiencing a major malfunction and thereafter reported 
that the aircraft was going down.  An accompanying aircraft 
observed the aircraft make a hard landing, spin about, and 
the tail section separate from the fuselage. 
 
3. (SBU) A rescue helicopter was immediately launched from 
Saravena.  The rescue aircraft arrived at the scene, 
determined that three of the four crewmembers had perished, 
and transported the one surviving crewmember to Saravena. 
This crewmember subsequently died.  One of the casualties 
was a Colombian national employed by a U.S. contractor. 
Remains of the crewmembers and the wreckage were recovered 
on July 9 and an investigation is underway. 
 
4. (SBU) On July 10, a Colombian Air Force UH-60 Gunship 
(Arpia) assigned to Combat Command 5 (Rio Negro) was 
performing night operations near Bahi, Antioquia Department. 
The aircraft encountered weather and attempted an instrument 
landing at an airfield in Carepa but was unable to land. 
The aircraft subsequently attempted a landing at what 
appeared to be a soccer field or other open area but the 
main rotor struck an object, possibly a wire, and went down 
hard.  There were no fatalities.  The CACOM 5 Commander 
reports that the aircraft suffered "50 percent damage."  An 
investigation is underway and the aircraft is being 
disassembled and trucked to an airfield where it will be 
loaded on to a C-130 for transport to Rio Negro.  We expect 
that the helicopter will be inoperable for a long time 
before it can be returned to service, if ever. 
 
WOOD