Sebastián Piñera, the former president of Chile who served two terms in office, died on Tuesday after a helicopter he was flying crashed into a lake in southern Chile. He was 74 years old.
Piñera, who was also a billionaire businessman and investor, was piloting the helicopter himself when it plunged into Lago Ranco, near the town of the same name, according to local authorities. Three other passengers, including his son-in-law and a friend, survived the crash and were rescued by the army.
The interior minister, Carolina Tohá, confirmed the death of the former president and expressed her condolences to his family and the nation. She said the cause of the crash was under investigation.
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Piñera was a conservative politician who led Chile from 2010 to 2014 and from 2018 to 2022. He oversaw rapid economic growth and a steep fall in unemployment during his first presidency, at a time when many of Chile’s trade partners and neighbours were facing economic struggles.
His second presidency was marked by violent protests against inequality and corruption that led to accusations of human rights violations and ended with the government promising to draft a new constitution. Piñera also managed Chile’s Covid-19 response, which included one of the fastest vaccination rates in the world.
One of his first administration’s high points, touted often by Piñera himself, was the spectacular rescue in 2010 of 33 miners trapped underneath the Atacama desert. The event became a global media sensation and was the subject of a 2014 movie, The 33.
Piñera was married to Cecilia Morel, with whom he had four children. He was one of the richest men in Chile, with a fortune estimated at $2.8 billion by Forbes magazine.
Politicians around South America and the world have paid tribute to Piñera, praising his leadership and vision. The former Argentinian President Mauricio Macri said he felt “immense sadness” and it was an “irreplaceable loss”. Ivan Duque, the former president of Colombia, said he felt great sadness for the death of his friend.
The current Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared three days of national mourning and ordered flags to be flown at half-mast. He said Piñera was a “great statesman” who “dedicated his life to the service of Chile and its people”.