Death and state funeral of Sebastián Piñera
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (February 2024) |
On 6 February 2024, the Chilean Government confirmed the death of former President Sebastián Piñera at the age of 74. He died in a helicopter accident while on vacation in the commune of Lago Ranco, located in the southern Chilean region of Los Ríos. The helicopter crashed about 40 meters from the southern shore of Lake Ranco at Ilihue, east of Lago Ranco.[1]
Later that evening, President Gabriel Boric, in an address from La Moneda Palace, announced three days of national mourning and declared that Piñera would receive a state funeral.[2][3][4][5]
Accident[edit]
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 6 February 2024 |
| Summary | Crashed into lake shortly after takeoff, under investigation |
| Site | Lago Ranco, Chile |
| Total fatalities | 1 |
| Total injuries | 3 |
| Total survivors | 3 |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Robinson R44 Raven II |
Sebastián Piñera owned a residence in the Coique Bay area of the Futrono commune. On 6 February 2024, he attended a lunch with his sister Magdalena, businessman Ignacio Guerrero, and Ignacio's son Bautista[6][7] at the home of businessman José Cox in the Ilihue sector of the Lago Ranco commune. Piñera piloted his Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter, with registration CC-PHP, across the lake from his residence.[8] After lunch, as the return flight began, the helicopter lost control just a few meters from the shore, making contact with the surface of the water and capsizing into Lake Ranco in the Ilihue sector near the take-off site.[9][10][11] The Carabineros de Chile received a report of the crash at 14:57 (UTC−03:00), with initial reports indicating one fatality and three survivors.[11][12]
Close associates of the former president noted that the vehicle's visibility might have been compromised due to fogged windows. Less than 40 minutes passed between the alert call and Piñera's body being handed over to Carabineros.[13] Former minister Karla Rubilar told the press that, according to his sister Magdalena, who was aboard the helicopter, his final words were: "You jump first, because if I jump with you, the helicopter will fall on all of us."[14]
Piñera's body was recovered by the Chilean Navy from a depth of 28 m (92 ft).[15][1] His death was confirmed around 17:00 through a statement from his press office and a statement from Minister of the Interior and Public Security, Carolina Tohá.[16] The General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics confirmed that the other three occupants of the aircraft survived.[17] At the time of the crash, there was a strong storm in the area.[18] According to La Nación, Piñera survived the crash itself, but the impact left him unconscious and unable to remove his safety belt, resulting in his drowning.[19][20]
State funeral[edit]
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After Piñera's death was confirmed, President Gabriel Boric announced a three-day national mourning period in a televised address shortly after 18:00. He also disclosed plans for a state funeral, with Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren designated to lead the organizing committee.[21] Boric praised Piñera as a "democrat from the very beginning."[22]
The funeral proceedings began when a Chilean Air Force (FACh) plane carrying Piñera's remains, following an autopsy in Valdivia, landed at Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in Santiago. President Gabriel Boric, accompanied by some ministers, received the remains and the family at the FACh Group 10 ramp. Subsequently, the Air Force rendered honors, and the procession proceeded to the National Congress headquarters, where Piñera's remains lay in state until the morning of 9 February. Afterward, the remains will be transferred to the Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral for a funeral mass. Following the mass, the remains will be taken to the Parque del Recuerdo Cemetery, with a homage paid at La Moneda Palace by the palace guard and President Boric along the way.[23][24]
Confirmed attendees[edit]
Domestic[edit]
- Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, former president.[25]
- Ricardo Lagos, former president.[25]
- Michelle Bachelet, former president.[25]
International[edit]
- Mario Abdo Benítez, former president of Paraguay.[26]
- Sergio Díaz-Granados Guida, president of the CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean.[26]
- Guillermo Lasso, former president of Ecuador.[26]
- Leopoldo Francisco Sahores, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Argentina.[25]
Reactions[edit]
Domestic[edit]
President Gabriel Boric said that Piñera's death moved and mourned the country in already difficult circumstances due to the 2024 Chile wildfires. Furthermore, he declared that "with deep regret I want to express my condolences that I personally conveyed to his daughters, his family, all those close to him and those who were part of his two governments". Former president Michelle Bachelet expressed deep regret over Piñera's death and said she valued his "commitment to our country and democracy, as well as his tireless work and service to the nation".[citation needed] Minister of the Interior Carolina Tohá expressed shock at Piñera's death and conveyed her solidarity to his family and friends; she also described Piñera as "a democratic president".[citation needed]
Daniel Jadue, the mayor of Recoleta, expressed regret at Piñera's death despite their "deep differences",[citation needed] and sent condolences to his family, friends and party. Piñera's former labor minister Evelyn Matthei described him as "a great friend, a great leader. Passionate about Chile, passionate about life," and gave "the most sincere condolences to Cecilia and her entire family."[citation needed] Piñera's former education and social development minister Joaquín Lavín offered his prayers to Piñera's family.[citation needed]
Former conservative presidential candidate José Antonio Kast declared that Piñera "was a great public servant and gave the best years of his life to serving Chile".[citation needed]
Television host Mario Kreutzberger described Piñera as "always very friendly and willing to collaborate with us. His life and career were undoubtedly marked by his vocation for public service, which led him to the presidency of Chile twice."[citation needed] Television personality Martín Cárcamo also offered his condolences, stating "I interviewed him many times and, more than once, we were able to talk off camera. Always willing and open to a conversation, whether it was about big country topics or simple and beautiful conversations about life itself."[citation needed]
The Colo-Colo association football club, which was previously partially owned by Piñera, expressed condolences over his death.[citation needed] Pablo Milad, the president of the National Professional Football Association (ANFP) expressed his condolences, noting that Piñera would be remembered as "a person who was always interested in the development and modernization of Chilean football, in improving and renewing the infrastructure of our stadiums and promote a culture of sports practice and healthy living among Chileans."[citation needed] In addition, he confirmed that Piñera will be honored along with the victims of the forest fires in central Chile with a minute of silence prior to the 2024 Supercopa de Chile.[citation needed]
Following news of Piñera's death, Televisión Nacional de Chile modified its logo by adding the color black as an expression of mourning.[citation needed]
Jimmy Sánchez, one of the 33 miners rescued during the 2010 Copiapó mining accident, said that it was a pleasure to meet Piñera, and said that he was grateful that "he gave us our lives back."[24]
International[edit]
Argentina: President Javier Milei sent condolences to Piñera's family and the people of Chile. Former presidents Alberto Fernández, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, and Mauricio Macri also expressed their condolences.[27].svg/22px-Bandera_de_Bolivia_(Estado).svg.png)
Bolivia: President Luis Arce extended condolences to Piñera's family and the Chilean people. Condolences were also sent by former presidents Evo Morales, Carlos Mesa, Jorge Quiroga Ramírez, Eduardo Rodríguez Veltzé, and Jeanine Áñez.[27]
Brazil: President Lula da Silva expressed his grief over Piñera's death and sent his deepest condolences to his family and friends. Former presidents Michel Temer and Jair Bolsonaro also sent their condolences.[27].svg/23px-Flag_of_Canada_(Pantone).svg.png)
Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared himself shocked and saddened and also sent condolences to the Chilean people and Piñera's family.[28]
China: Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wan Wenbin issued a statement lamenting Piñera's death, calling him a "good friend" of the Chinese people.[27]
Colombia: Former presidents Andrés Pastrana, Iván Duque, Juan Manuel Santos, and Álvaro Uribe Vélez sent their condolences to Piñera's family and the Chilean people.[27]
Costa Rica: The Government expressed deep sorrow to the people and Government of Chile for Piñera's death. Former presidents Laura Chinchilla and Carlos Alvarado Quesada also extended their condolences.[27]
Cuba: President Miguel Díaz-Canel expressed condolences to the family and friends of Piñera.[28]
Dominican Republic: President Luis Abinader issued a statement through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs extending his "sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. Peace to his soul."[27]
Ecuador: Former president Guillermo Lasso expressed his condolences to Piñera's family, especially to his wife Cecilia Morel and to the Chilean people. Former president Rafael Correa also joined in offering condolences and said that despite ideological differences, he always maintained a good relationship with Piñera.[27] Former president Lenín Moreno also joined in offering condolences on Piñera's death.[29]
European Union: High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell extended condolences to Piñera's family and friends as well as the people and government of Chile.[30]
France: President Emmanuel Macron remembered Piñera as "an untiring force for the growth and development of his country, an international leader committed to our cause for the Amazon, a friend of France."[27]
Guatemala: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs communicated its condolences to Piñera's family through X and expressed its solidarity with the government and people of Chile.[31]
Honduras: President Xiomara Castro expressed solidarity with the Chilean people over Piñera's death.[27]
Japan: The Embassy of Japan in Chile issued a statement expressing condolences on Piñera's death.[32]
Mexico: Foreign Minister and former ambassador to Chile Alicia Bárcena lamented Piñera's death and extended condolences to his family, friends, and Chileans. Former President Felipe Calderón also sent condolences.[27]
Nicaragua: President Daniel Ortega and his wife and vice president Rosario Murillo also wrote in a letter addressed to President Boric that "we respectfully convey our condolences to you" for Piñera's death, and prayed for "his eternal rest".[27]
Panama: President Laurentino Cortizo expressed grief over Piñera's death and sent his condolences to his family and the people of Chile.[27] Former presidents Martín Torrijos Espino and Juan Carlos Varela joined in offering condolences.[33][34]
Paraguay: President Santiago Peña lamented Piñera's death and expressed condolences. Former presidents Mario Abdo Benítez and Horacio Cartes also joined in offering condolences.[27]
Peru: The office of President Dina Boluarte issued a statement lamenting Piñera's death. Former presidents Ollanta Humala, Martín Vizcarra, Manuel Merino, and Francisco Sagasti also extended their condolences to the Chilean people.[27][35][36]
Russia: President Vladimir Putin, through a telegram, expressed grief at Piñera's death and highlighted "a significant personal contribution to the development of friendly relations between Russia and Chile".[37][38]
Spain: Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his dismay at Piñera's death and sent condolences to his family, friends, and the government and people of Chile.[27][39] Former prime minister Mariano Rajoy also offered his condolences, describing Piñera as a politician who loved his country.[40]
Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his "sincere condolences to the family and close ones of the deceased and to the Chilean people".[27]
United Kingdom: Former prime minister and incumbent foreign secretary David Cameron declared he was "deeply saddened" by the death of Piñera, whom he described as a true friend.[41]
United States: President Joe Biden sent his condolences.[42][43][44]
Uruguay: President Luis Lacalle Pou posted his condolences via X to Chileans and their families. Former presidents José Mujica and Julio María Sanguinetti also expressed their condolences.[27]
Venezuela: President Nicolás Maduro expressed solidarity with the Chilean people and lamented Piñera's death. Opposition leader María Corina Machado also lamented Piñera's death.[27] Former national assembly president Juan Guaidó mourned his death and described him as "a friend and sincere ally in the rescue of democracy in Venezuela".[45]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Detalles del accidente: Cómo era el helicóptero que piloteaba el ex Presidente y el punto exacto en el que capotó". Emol (in Spanish). 7 February 2024. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ "Gabriel Boric lamentó la muerte de Sebastián Piñera: "Fue un demócrata desde la primera hora"". Infobae. 6 February 2024. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
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- ^ María Luisa Cisternas (7 February 2024). "Velorio en el ex Congreso y una misa en la Catedral Metropolitana: Canciller detalla funeral de Estado para Piñera". Emol (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ de la Fuente, Antonieta (7 February 2024). "La relación Piñera-Guerrero-Cox, una amistad unida por los negocios y, a veces, por la política". El País Chile (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ 24horas. "¿Quiénes eran los otros ocupantes del helicóptero donde falleció el expresidente Sebastián Piñera?". www.24horas.cl (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Vallejos, Leonardo (6 February 2024). "Helicóptero capotó a los pocos minutos de despegar: Detalles del accidente en que murió Piñera". Emol. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "Reportan caída de helicóptero a orillas del lago Ranco en el sector de Ilihue". Noticias Los Ríos. 6 February 2024. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "Confirman muerte del expresidente Sebastián Piñera en helicóptero que capotó en Lago Ranco". CNN Chile (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ a b Juan Pablo Andrews; Alonso Aranda (6 February 2024). "Expresidente Sebastián Piñera fallece en accidente de helicóptero en Lago Ranco". La Tercera. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ González, Antonio (6 February 2024). "Cae helicóptero en el que viajaba expresidente Sebastián Piñera en Lago Ranco: un muerto y 3 heridos". BioBioChile (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "Sin cinturón, a un lado del helicóptero y a 28 metros de profundidad: habló el buzo que rescató el cuerpo de Sebastián Piñera" (in Spanish). Infobae. 6 February 2024. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ^ ""Salten ustedes primero": conmoción en Chile ante las últimas palabras de Piñera en el helicóptero" (in Spanish). El Confidencial. 7 February 2024. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ^ Jackson, Patrick; Buschschlüter, Vanessa (6 February 2024). "Sebastián Piñera: Former president of Chile dies in helicopter crash". BBC. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ T13 (6 February 2024). "Muere expresidente Sebastián Piñera en accidente aéreo en Lago Ranco". www.facebook.com/teletrece (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ 24horas. "DGAC revela el detalle del accidente de helicóptero del expresidente Sebastián Piñera". www.24horas.cl (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Expresidente Sebastián Piñera fallece en accidente de helicóptero en Lago Ranco". La Tercera. 6 February 2024. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "Murió el expresidente chileno Sebastián Piñera en un accidente de helicóptero". La Nación. 6 February 2024. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "Confirman muerte de expresidente Sebastián Piñera en accidente aéreo". ADN Radio Chile. 6 February 2024. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ Solís, Francisco (6 February 2024). ""Fue un demócrata": Boric decreta tres días de duelo nacional por fallecimiento de expresidente Piñera". BioBioChile (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "Gabriel Boric lamentó la muerte de Sebastián Piñera: "Fue un demócrata desde la primera hora"". Infobae. 6 February 2024. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ Cisternas, María Luisa (7 February 2024). "Velorio en el ex Congreso y una misa en la Catedral Metropolitana: Canciller detalla funeral de Estado para Piñera". Emol. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ a b Luna, Patricia (8 February 2024). "Chilean ex-President Piñera drowned after a crash in a helicopter he was piloting, prosecutors say". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ a b c d González, Alberto; Carrillo, Constanza (8 February 2024). "Canciller Van Klaveren confirma presencia de expresidentes en funerales de Sebastián Piñera". Radio Bío-Bío. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ a b c Ramírez, Francisco (7 February 2024). "Ex Presidentes de Paraguay y Ecuador ya confirmaron su presencia en funerales del viernes de Sebastián Piñera". emol.com. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Líderes políticos despidieron al ex presidente de Chile Sebastián Piñera". infobae (in Spanish). 6 February 2024. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ a b Cooperativa.cl. "[Minuto a Minuto] Las reacciones a la muerte de Sebastián Piñera". Cooperativa.cl (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ @Lenin (6 February 2024). "Ante el doloroso y prematuro fallecimiento del querido amigo Sebastián Piñera, expreso mis más sinceras condolencias a su familia y amigos. Quienes lo apoyaron en su gestión y comparten sus ideas sabrán mantener su nombre en los anales de la democracia chilena". Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ "Líderes internacionales entregan condolencias por la muerte de Sebastián Piñera". France 24. 7 February 2024. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ @MinexGT (6 February 2024). "El @GuatemalaGob, a través del @MinexGt, lamenta el trágico fallecimiento del expresidente de la República de Chile, Sebastián Piñera, y presenta sus más sentidas muestras de condolencias a su familia, solidarizándose con el Gobierno y el Pueblo chileno". Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ @JapanEmb_Chile. "Condolencias de la Embajada del Japón en Chile ante el fallecimiento del ex presidente Sebastián Piñera Echenique". Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ @MartinTorrijos. "Recibo desde Chile la noticia del inesperado fallecimiento del expresidente Sebastián Piñera. Cultivamos una amistad que caracterizó la franqueza y el respeto. Incansable y siempre dispuesto a construir, con ideas creativas. Su patria está de luto. A su familia le expresó mis condolencias y mi compañía en estos momentos por su irreparable pérdida".
- ^ @JC_Varela. "Increíble un medio estatal de un gobierno que ha provocado la salida de más de seis millones de sus ciudadanos de su país , ataque la memoria de un gran ser humano como lo fue el Presidente Sebastián Piñera , en medio de el luto de su familia , de su país y de toda América Latina".
- ^ "Sebastián Piñera murió: Políticos peruanos lamentan fallecimiento del expresidente de Chile". exitosanoticias.pe (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ @MerinoDeLama. "Lamento el sensible fallecimiento del expresidente de Chile, Sebastián Piñera. Siempre se caracterizó por su espíritu democrático y el respeto a las instituciones. Su dedicación para buscar el desarrollo de su país será el legado que dejará al pueblo chileno. Descansa en paz". Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ Infobae (7 February 2024). "Putin transmite sus condolencias por la muerte del exmandatario chileno Sebastián Piñera". infobae (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "MSN". www.msn.com. Archived from the original on 15 November 2006. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "Oud-president van Chili crasht met helikopter in meer en sterft". nieuwsblad.be (in Flemish). 7 February 2024. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ Dote, Sebastián (6 February 2024). "Hispanoamérica lamenta la muerte de Sebastián Piñera: "Estaba comprometido con los valores de la libertad"". El País Chile (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "Sebastián Piñera: Las reacciones de los líderes mundiales a la muerte del expresidente de Chile". BBC News Mundo (in Spanish). 7 February 2024. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "Statement from President Joe Biden on the Passing of Former President Sebastián Piñera of Chile". 7 February 2024. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ "Joe Biden expresses condolences on Twitter". Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ "Declaración del Presidente Joe Biden sobre el fallecimiento del ex Presidente de Chile, Sebastián Piñera". U.S. Embassy in Chile. 7 February 2024. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ ""Una gran pérdida para los demócratas, para los que luchamos por la libertad y el respeto a los derechos humanos": Guaidó sobre muerte de Piñera". NTN24 (in Spanish). 7 February 2024. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
External links[edit]
Media related to the death and state funeral of Sebastián Piñera at Wikimedia Commons
