# San Juan helicopter crash aftermath

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/san-juan-helicopter-crash-aftermath
> Updated: 2026-07-31T02:26:50.000Z. Sources: 177. Developments: 2.

On 29 July 2026 a Bell 412 helicopter contracted by Argentina’s Federal Emergency Agency crashed during a wildfire‑combat training mission. The aircraft lost radar contact at 10:26 local time and fell in the Ischigualasto Provincial Park near Valle Fértil, killing all seven occupants, including provincial Protection Civil director Carlos Heredia, police sub‑chief Germán Videla, fire chief Rubén Castro, fire division chief Jorge Carbajal, pilot Matías Valenzuela and two AFE brigadiers. Governor Marcelo Orrego declared three days of provincial mourning. Rescue teams recovered the bodies and the flight‑data recorder; investigators cite fog and drizzle as possible contributing factors.

Two days later, San Juan province held a series of funeral rites. A mass was celebrated and broadcast live at the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista. A procession then moved through the city, stopping at the police headquarters, the Civil Protection Directorate, the fire‑brigade barracks and the town of Benavídez before proceeding to the capital cemetery. The officials laid to rest were Heredia, Videla, Castro and Carbajal, alongside pilots and crew members. Thousands of citizens, families and officials attended the ceremonies, completing the province’s public tributes to the victims.

## Claims

- A Bell 412 helicopter contracted by the Federal Emergency Agency (AFE) crashed in Ischigualasto Provincial Park, San Juan, Argentina on 29 July 2026. (disputed by 20 sources)
- The helicopter crashed in Valle Fértil during a forest‑fire combat training exercise. (disputed by 8 sources)
- The crash resulted in seven fatalities. (corroborated by 21 sources)
- The victims were Carlos Heredia, Germán Videla, Rubén Castro, Jorge Carbajal, pilot Matías Valenzuela, and AFE brigadiers Andrés Bosch and Rodrigo Aimeta. (corroborated by 20 sources)
- The cause of the crash is under investigation. (corroborated by 20 sources)
- The helicopter lost contact at 10:26 local time. (corroborated by 19 sources)
- Governor Marcelo Orrego declared three days of provincial mourning. (corroborated by 19 sources)
- The flight was part of a training mission for wildfire combat and was to continue to La Rioja. (corroborated by 19 sources)
- The flight data recorder (black box) was recovered from the crash site. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- The incident was reported by Argentine authorities and covered by media in Brazil. (corroborated by 3 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-07-31: San Juan province holds funeral for victims of Valle Fértil air crash

San Juan province conducted a mass and procession on Saturday to honor four officials and other victims of the July 29 Valle Fértil air crash, ending at the capital cemetery.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/san-juan-mourns-four-provincial-officials-killed-in-helicopter-crash

### 2026-07-29: Seven killed in San Juan helicopter crash during wildfire training

A Bell 412 helicopter contracted by Argentina's AFE crashed during wildfire training on 29 July 2026 in San Juan, killing all seven aboard, including senior officials; investigations continue.

177 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/helicopter-crash-in-argentinas-valle-frtil-kills-seven

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Cite as: San Juan helicopter crash aftermath. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/san-juan-helicopter-crash-aftermath