Tragedy Strikes in Andalucia
A 26-year-old man and his Spanish pilot lost their lives when their light aircraft crashed in the picturesque Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park in the Andalucian province of Almeria.
A Fateful Journey
The tragic incident occurred just after midnight on Wednesday. The pair had taken off from an aerodrome in Velez-Malaga, east of Malaga, with the intention of reaching the east coast city of Valencia.
The Victims
The pilot, identified as 24-year-old Rafael Ricote, served as an instructor at a Malaga-based aviation school.
The student, known locally only by his first name, Marcus, was a 26-year-old man residing on the Costa del Sol with a family of British origin.
The Crash Site
The crash unfolded around 12:30 am near Cerro del Fraile, a volcanic peak within the stunning natural park. This area has seen the filming of popular Western movies, including “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.”
Final Stop for Fuel
The ill-fated aircraft had stopped to refuel at nearby Almeria Airport before continuing their journey. Tragically, no Mayday calls were made before the plane went down.
Recovery and Investigations
Civil Guard mountain rescue experts retrieved the bodies of the two men from the wreckage.
Authorities have initiated separate investigations into the incident.
Unconfirmed Nationalities
Civil Guard officers in Almeria have refrained from confirming the nationalities of the deceased individuals.
A Solemn Holiday
As the incident occurred on a national Bank Holiday in Spain, One Air Diamond Flight Centre, the flight training school where Rafael Ricote worked, and the aircraft’s owner could not be reached for comment.
Emergency Response
A regional government-run emergency response coordination center confirmed the tragedy, stating that two people lost their lives in the early hours of Wednesday morning in the municipality of Nijar.
An emergency call from Valencia Airport indicated the loss of contact with the light aircraft, which belonged to a flight training school in Malaga and was bound for Valencia with two individuals on board.
Tributes for the Pilot
Social media has seen an outpouring of tributes to the pilot, Rafael Ricote, who hailed from Cordoba, Spain.
riends remember him as a person who had aspired to become a pilot since childhood, describing him as a wonderful individual.
World News
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn