Sebastián Piñera dead: 6 other personalities killed in helicopter crashes

Sebastián Piñera died on Tuesday at the age of 74 following a helicopter crash. The former president of Chile shared the vehicle with three other people, all of whom survived. He, who was also the pilot of the plane, died when the helicopter fell into the water and was unable to unfasten his seat belt.

The politician was not the only person to die in a helicopter crash. There are quite recent cases, like that of Kobe Bryant, or some that are long gone, but they are worth remembering.

Let’s see, then, 6 other famous surnames that shared the tragic fate of the 74-year-old former president.

Kobe Bryant

The basketball legend had only recently retired when the helicopter he was traveling on, a Sikorsky S-76, crashed on January 26, 2020.

The 41-year-old American basketball player was flying over Calabasas, California, along with one of his daughters, among other people, who also died.

Although the cause of the accident is unclear, it is believed to have been due to bad weather.

Jorge Brito

The businessman was 68 years old when he died in a helicopter crash while flying to his residence in the city of Joaquín V. González.

He was returning from a lunch with the governor of Salta aboard a Eurocopter AS350 Ecureuil when near the Cabra Corral dam he became entangled in a cableway cable, which destabilized the vehicle.

He was known for having been the owner of Banco Macro and for being one of the richest people in Argentina. In 2017 Forbes magazine ranked him 1,567th globally among billionaires and 7th in his native country.

Luis Rubén Di Palma

The crazy Di Palma, father of Marquitos and emblem of Argentine motorsport, died on 30 September 2000 next to Carlos Tejedor. He flew the helicopter himself.

According to one of his sons, the accident occurred because Luis fell asleep. It was 6 in the afternoon and the motorist was returning from the Santa Rosa racetrack, in La Pampa, aboard a Robinson R-44.

Colin McRae

McRae, one of world rallying’s most iconic surnames, died on September 15, 2007 after the helicopter he was piloting crashed north of Lanark, Scotland.

The former pilot had an expired license and was traveling with his eldest son and two family friends, who were also killed.

The English were also famous for being the name of a famous car video game.

Camille Muffat

French swimmer Camille Muffat was just 25 years old when she died in a plane crash in Argentina while filming a reality show.

It occurred after an aerial collision between two vehicles near Villa Castelli, province of La Rioja, on March 9, 2015.

Muffat had just been the 400 meter freestyle champion at the 2012 London Olympics.

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha

The Thai businessman was the owner of the English club Leicester City when he died literally in the vicinity of his club’s playing field.

On 27 October 2018, an AgustaWestland AW169 helicopter crashes after just taking off from the King Power Stadium. The helicopter crashed to the ground shortly after take-off, 200 meters from the pitch, in the club’s car park.