Jungle Crash Survival: How Five Defied Death in an Alligator-Infested Swamp

A dramatic rescue unfolded in Bolivia after five individuals, including a child, were saved nearly two days following a plane crash deep in the Amazon jungle. The small aircraft, which went down on Wednesday, was finally located on Friday morning, according to a statement from the Bolivian Defense Ministry.

The aircraft had departed from the Baures municipality in northern Bolivia, heading toward Trinidad. About an hour into the flight, the pilot reported technical problems. Soon after, all contact with the plane was lost, prompting an urgent search and rescue mission.

The pilot, 27-year-old Pablo Andrés Velarde, managed to execute an emergency landing, but the plane came down in a swamp infested with alligators. In a hospital interview with Unitel, Velarde recounted that the crash site was dangerously close to an alligator nest.

He explained that the jet fuel leaking from the wreckage polluted the water, creating a strong smell that repelled the nearby alligators. Although the reptiles didn’t disappear completely, the stench kept them at bay long enough for the group to avoid being attacked.

None of the passengers sustained serious injuries, but they endured extreme conditions for nearly two days. With limited resources, the group survived by rationing chocolate and cassava flour salvaged by the pilot from the partially submerged plane.

Mirtha Fuentes, one of the survivors, described the emotional relief they felt after realizing they had made it out alive. She credited their survival to the pilot’s fast thinking and expressed immense gratitude for what she described as a miracle.

Efforts to locate the crash site were severely delayed by adverse weather conditions. Although several aircraft flew over the region, the dense jungle made spotting the survivors nearly impossible. It wasn't until early Friday morning that local fishermen discovered the group.

Shortly after their discovery, the Bolivian Air Force deployed a rescue helicopter to extract the survivors and fly them to Trinidad for medical attention. President Luis Arce confirmed their safety and commended the rescue teams, assuring the public that all five individuals were receiving proper care.