San Juan is mourning the seven occupants of a helicopter that crashed in a hard-to-reach area of the Valle Fértil department. The group was taking part in wildfire response training organized by the National Firefighting Agency. The Wednesday accident was described as the worst air tragedy in the province's recorded history.
Governor Marcelo Orrego released a statement after authorities confirmed there were no survivors. His response went beyond an institutional condolence: he named the people on the mission and emphasized the public duties they performed. Four of the victims worked in provincial agencies responsible for security, civil protection and emergency response.
They included Civil Protection director Carlos Heredia and Police Deputy Chief Germán Videla, who held the rank of commissioner general. Fire Chief and Commissioner General Rubén Castro and Deputy Fire Chief and Inspector Commissioner Jorge Carbajal also died. Orrego described them as public servants devoted to protecting the people of San Juan and recalled working alongside them in different emergencies.
The other victims were aircraft pilot Matías Valenzuela and Federal Emergency Agency brigade members Andrés Bosch and Rodrigo Aimetta. The group's composition shows that the flight brought provincial and national capabilities together for specialized training. An exercise intended to improve wildfire preparedness became a simultaneous loss for several emergency institutions.
The governor extended his support to every family, without distinguishing among provincial officials, federal brigade members and the pilot. Confirmation of the names gave a personal dimension to a tragedy that shook the province because of both the number of deaths and the protective role each victim held.
Alongside his condolences, Orrego said the provincial executive was already working with the relevant agencies to assist the families. That announcement moves the official response from public tribute toward practical coordination, a necessary step because the victims belonged to different institutions and levels of government.
The investigation and subsequent operations must proceed in Valle Fértil's difficult terrain, which affected access from the start. As those procedures continue, the government's immediate response is focused on supporting relatives and honoring the seven members of a mission traveling to strengthen wildfire response capacity.
