Tragic Helicopter Crash in El Salvador, Killing Police Chief and Fugitive Banker

Nine people, including El Salvador's National Police Director and a fugitive banker, have died in a military helicopter crash in the rural part of the country. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

El Salvador's military has confirmed the tragic deaths of nine individuals, including the National Police Director, high-ranking police officials, and a fugitive banker, in a military helicopter crash in a rural area of the country. The cause of the crash, which occurred on Sunday night, is still under investigation.

The deceased include Mauricio Arriaza Chicas, the Director General of the National Civil Police, and two of his deputies. The helicopter was also carrying Manuel Coto, a former manager of the COSAVI savings and loan cooperative, who was arrested in Honduras over the weekend and handed over to Salvadoran authorities at the border.

Tragic Helicopter Crash in El Salvador, Killing Police Chief and Fugitive Banker

Coto was the subject of an Interpol arrest warrant and was one of 32 individuals implicated in the embezzlement of more than $35 million from the cooperative. The Salvadoran military reported that the crash occurred in the area of San Eduardo, Pasaquina, La Union.

President Nayib Bukele expressed his shock and declared that "what happened cannot remain as a simple 'accident'" and called for a thorough investigation. He also indicated that the government would seek international assistance to determine the exact cause of the crash.

Tragic Helicopter Crash in El Salvador, Killing Police Chief and Fugitive Banker

Arriaza Chicas was known for his role in leading the government's fight against the gangs that once dominated daily life in El Salvador. President Bukele's administration has implemented harsh measures against the gangs, including mass arrests and questionable legal processes, which have been criticized by human rights organizations.

Security specialist Luis Contreras believes that Arriaza Chicas' death is unlikely to impact the ongoing war against the gangs, which the government claims to have significantly weakened. Contreras maintains that the gangs no longer have the capacity to react, and the government's efforts have achieved a "neutralization" rate of almost 90%.

President Bukele ordered flags to fly at half-staff on Monday to honor Arriaza Chicas, whom he described as a "national hero." The victims' bodies were transported to the capital in a police-escorted caravan.

The investigation into the helicopter crash is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the cause and any underlying factors that may have contributed to the tragedy. The loss of the nine individuals, including the National Police Director and a fugitive banker, represents a significant setback for the country and has raised questions about the safety and effectiveness of military operations.