In the aftermath of Friday’s powerful quake in southern Mexico, terrified residents of Jamiltepec—just twenty miles from the epicenter—had fled their unstable homes and spent the night under open skies or inside their vehicles, bracing for aftershocks. As dawn broke, a U.S.-made Blackhawk helicopter carrying Interior Secretary Alfonso Navarrete, Oaxaca Governor Alejandro Murat, and other senior officials appeared on the horizon, dispatched to assess the damage and coordinate relief efforts.
Moments before touchdown, however, the aircraft suddenly veered out of control about one hundred feet above the ground. Witnesses say the rotor blades shuddered, the nose dipped, and then the helicopter plummeted vertically onto the field below—striking a cluster of cars where nearly thirty quake survivors had sought safety. In an instant, metal twisted, glass shattered, and a plume of dust billowed skyward.
State prosecutors in Oaxaca later confirmed that fourteen people on the ground were killed, including at least three children, and twenty-one more were injured—some critically. Miraculously, all of the officials aboard the helicopter escaped with only minor bruises and abrasions. Emergency crews, already on site for earthquake relief, sprang into action to treat the wounded and recover the fallen, their grief compounded by the unexpected tragedy.
Speaking to Televisa that night, Secretary Navarrete expressed his sorrow: “It is heartbreaking that in our attempt to help, more lives were lost. We are thankful, however, that no others were harmed aboard the aircraft.” The following day, Defense Secretary Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda arrived in Jamiltepec bearing condolences and a solemn pledge: “Our mission was to serve this community. We accept full responsibility for what happened and will do everything possible to rebuild homes and support families affected by both quake and crash.”
As Oaxaca mobilizes reconstruction and medical aid, survivors and officials alike are caught between mourning and the urgent work of recovery. For the people of Jamiltepec, the promise of shelter and solidarity must now heal twofold—against both the earth’s tremors and the wreckage from above.