Former Chilean president Sebastian Pinera dies in tragic helicopter crash

The demise of Sebastian Pinera has been confirmed by both his office and Chile's Ministry of the Interior.

Pinera was aboard the helicopter along with three other passengers when it unfortunately crashed into a lake located in the southern part of Chile. While the rest were injured, only Pinera could not be rescued. The National Agency for Disasters SENAPRAD identified the city of Lago Ranco as the accident site.

Sebastian Pinera was unable to free himself from his safety belts and, as a result, drowned, as per the reports from "La Nacion". The Ministry of the Interior of Chile has confirmed that the politician's body has been recovered.

Sebastian Pinera was 74 years old at the time of his death. His presidency spanned twice — from 2010 to 2014 and again from 2018 to 2022.

In Pinera's first term as president, Chile saw significant economic development, with a notable drop in unemployment, according to Reuters. This was despite a slowdown in economic growth affecting several of Chile's trade partners and neighbouring countries.

However, Pinera's second term was not as successful. The country was plagued with social unrest, leading to numerous protests. One outcome was a commitment to formulating a new constitution. Gabriel Boric succeeded Pinera as president.

Pinera was a businessman as well as a former President. He held directorship roles in various companies and also owned the Chilevisión television station.

Politically, Pinera was a right-wing representative. His wealth is estimated to be around 2.7 billion dollars.