What started as a routine flight over Bolivia turned into a dramatic survival story when a small plane went missing for nearly two days.
Five people—three women, a child, and the pilot—found themselves stranded on top of a sinking aircraft in the middle of an alligator-infested swamp.
Their ordeal lasted a staggering 36 hours before they were finally rescued, hungry, exhausted—but miraculously unharmed.
Fishermen Stumble on a Shocking Sight in the Amazon
The group’s nightmare came to light when local fishermen in Bolivia’s remote Amazonas region came across a strange sight on Friday: a partially submerged plane in the swampy wetlands.
It had disappeared from radar 48 hours earlier during a flight from Baures to Trinidad.
When the emergency response team arrived, they found the survivors huddled together on top of the aircraft, visibly shaken but safe.
Footage of the rescue showed how dangerously close they were to the waterline—surrounded by swampland crawling with predators.
Stuck in the Swamp With Alligators Circling
According to Wilson Avila, head of the Beni Department’s emergency operations, the survivors were trapped in a swamp teeming with alligators.
They had nowhere to go and no way to move without risking their lives.
Pilot Andres Velarde, 29, explained that the plane had suddenly lost altitude due to engine trouble, forcing him to make an emergency landing near the Itanomas River.
With no clear landing strip in sight, he aimed for a swamp, hoping it was the safest option.
“We were standing on top of the plane,” Velarde said, “with alligators coming within just three meters of us.”
Gasoline, Cassava Flour, and a Close Call With an Anaconda
The group may have had some unexpected help from the aircraft itself.
Velarde believes leaking petrol from the engine may have helped keep the predators at bay.
Still, the danger didn’t stop there—they also spotted an anaconda lurking in the water nearby.
With no fresh water to drink, the group survived on cassava flour, a dry staple that one of the women had luckily packed.
They were dehydrated, hungry, and cold—but never gave up hope.
A Swift Rescue and Relief All Around
Once the fishermen reported the sighting, emergency services quickly launched a rescue mission.
A helicopter was dispatched to retrieve the five survivors and airlift them to the hospital for medical evaluation.
Despite the harrowing experience, the group was reported to be in “excellent” condition.
Officials Respond to Speculation With Gratitude
In the days leading up to their discovery, many in the region had speculated about what happened to the missing flight.
According to Ruben Torres, Director of the Beni Region Health Department, rumors spread fast—but the focus remained on finding the people alive.
“I’m incredibly relieved,” he told Reuters.
“In the end, all the institutions worked together, and we were able to save these lives.”
What Comes Next?
Now that the group has been rescued, attention will likely turn to investigating the aircraft’s mechanical failure and ensuring similar accidents can be prevented in the future.
For now, their survival stands as a powerful reminder of human resilience—and a bit of luck—deep in the Bolivian wild.