A Venezuelan National Guard helicopter crashed on Monday (December 28) on the Colombian side of the border amid sporadic diplomatic tensions between the two South American neighbours.
The Bell military helicopter, carrying two generals, crashed some 10 metres (32 feet) into the Colombian territory in Paraguachon, located on the northern region of the La Guajira Peninsula. They survived the crash and are receiving medical care.
The crash comes after a row earlier in the year between the two countries, after Venezuela closed major border crossings in August in what it said was a crackdown on crime and smuggling.
Colombia’s Defence Minister Luis Carlos Villegas played down any threats to national security and said the pilot and co-pilot were injured and taken to a hospital in Venezuela.
“A white Bell helicopter of the Venezuelan National Guard had a mechanical issue and rushed to land on this side of the Colombian border — about seven or 10 metres at the most — with no fire, simply crashing. Two of its occupants, the Venezuelan pilot and co-pilot were injured and rescued by Venezuelan authorities and taken to receive medical care in Venezuela,” he said.
Colombia and Venezuela share a 2,219-kilometre (1379 mile-) border which remains mostly closed since August.
In late September the neighbours agreed to restore their respective ambassadors following the spat and to begin discussions on the reopening of their border.
Source: Reuters
