Digital Journal reported Friday on the helicopter crash off the Canary Islands in Spain where one particular member of the Spanish military had his second miracle rescue.
Sergeant Jhonander Ojeda Alemán had previously survived the crash of a QAS 33 Super Puma helicopter which exploded during a routine night training exercise in Fuerteventura, killing Ojeda Alemán’s four fellow crew men.
The Spanish media reported on the more recent crash, saying that Ojeda Alemán had yet again had a lucky escape from the AS 332 Super Puma belonging to 802 Squadron that went down at approximately 3 p.m. Thursday. It was also noted that the crash happened on Ojeda Alemán’s 27th birthday and that his father, who gave his son’s name to the media, was tearfully relieved that he had survived.
The helicopter crash did actually happen, shortly after the crew refueled in Mauritania, having spent two weeks in military exercises in Senegal. However, according to El Pais in English, the rescue Thursday of Ojeda Alemán and his colleagues has now been thrown into doubt by the Spanish Defense Ministry.
Last week reports had suggested that the three men had been rescued by a Moroccan vessel, but it turns out that only indirect sources had been quoted in the matter and that version of the rescue has now been retracted.
No sign has as yet been seen of the three soldiers who were traveling in the crashed helicopter and the boat which had allegedly rescued the airmen from an inflatable life raft 280 nautical miles off the coast of Gran Canaria has not arrived in Dakhla as was previously reported.
As reported by El Correo (in Spanish), the search for the three soldiers is, reportedly, still ongoing with Spanish defense minister, Pedro Morenés, traveling to the Canary Islands to supervise the search operation. In a press conference at the Gando air base, Morenés said, “We can’t lose hope but we are working on all hypotheses.”
According to the Local, Morenés also tweeted that the Spanish and Moroccan governments “were deploying all means” needed to help in the search.
The three crew, including Sergeant Ojeda Alemán, comprised two pilots and a mechanic. All are members of the Spanish Air Force’s 802 Squadron based in Gando. The base is responsible for providing rapid support to rescue services in the Canary Islands.
No mention was made of Ojeda Alemán’s father, who had been so relieved his son had been rescued, only to now find out that he has not.
