Chilean Glider Pilot Found Alive After Crash
SANTIAGO - Rescue teams on Wednesday found alive a pilot who had been missing
since last weekend after his glider crashed near the town of Putaendo, some 100
kilometers (62 miles) northeast of the Chilean capital, officials said.
"We found Jose Auil alive, the glider pilot who has been missing since Sunday.
Congratulations to the rescue personnel and to Jose for his endurance!!!"
Interior Minister Rodrigo Hinzpeter said on Twitter.
Jose Alberto Auil Petermann, a 46-year-old dental surgeon, took off on Sunday
from the Vitacora Glider Club, in eastern Santiago, where he was scheduled to
return after a six-hour flight.
After losing contact with Auil and determining that he had not returned to
Santiago, authorities launched a search around Putaendo in the Aconcagua Valley.
Police officers, air force personnel and firefighters made up the rescue teams
that on Wednesday located the aircraft about 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of
El Copin Hill.
Auil, who has been a pilot for nine years, had written in Spanish on the roof
of his plane: "I'm OK and am going downriver."
This message enabled a helicopter to follow the watercourse until the crew
spotted Auil, who had trekked quite some distance from the glider. The chopper
immediately picked him up and took him to a Santiago hospital for a medical
checkup.
"He looked to be in very good shape," Putaendo fire chief Patricio Gallardo
told state television, expressing great emotion at having successfully
concluded the search and rescue operation. EFE
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