Cuban military helicopter supporting communist ruler's coastal visit crashes, killing three officers

A military helicopter supporting the visit of the regime's ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel to Santiago de Cuba crashed to the ground in the early hours of April 11 and there were no survivors of the accident, according to Miami news network AmericaTevé.

The media also reported that the helicopter was supporting the visit of the dictator Raúl Castro to the eastern city for the burial of combatants of the Third Eastern Front, although Castro was not on the damaged aircraft.

According to the report by investigative journalist Luis Domínguez, it is MI-17 Helicopter number 115, which is believed to have collapsed at 10 meters high.

Hours later this same Thursday, the island's official newspaper, Granma, explained in a brief note that the fallen helicopter “was carrying out a mission in the interest of the Revolutionary Armed Forces” and that the accident occurred in the area of ​​the Antonio Maceo International Airport. Grajales of the eastern province.

They also confirmed the death of the three crew members who were on board at the time of the disaster. The deceased were identified as Major Dairon González Espinosa, First Lieutenant Carlos Enrique Frómeta Rodríguez and Second Lieutenant Yunier Céspedes Escalona.

Granma said a commission from the country's Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces is investigating the causes of the accident.

Indeed, both Díaz-Canel and Castro were in Santiago de Cuba, according to what they published on their official networks. In a tweet, the current ruler of the island referred to the accident where three people lost their lives, without offering further details.

Publicación de Díaz-Canel en X este 10 de abril. | Captura de pantalla