PLAN COLOMBIA/COLOMBIAN ARMY BLACKHAWK GOES DOWN IN

UNCLAS BOGOTA 000335 SIPDIS DEPT FOR INL AND WHA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR PTER MOPS CO SUBJECT: PLAN COLOMBIA/COLOMBIAN ARMY BLACKHAWK GOES DOWN IN SOUTHERN NARINO ¶1. AT APPROXIMATELY 0020 ON JANUARY 13, A PLAN COLOMBIA/COLOMBIAN ARMY UH-60 BLACKHAWK HELICOPTER WITH 20 TROOPS CRASHED DUE TO BAD WEATHER APPROXIMATELY 36 MILES NORTHEAST OF TUMACO IN THE DEPARTMENT OF NARINO, ON COLOMBIA'S PACIFIC COAST. THERE WERE NO SURVIVORS. ¶2. THE HELICOPTER WAS CARRYING TROOPS FROM THE PLAN COLOMBIA SUPPORTED COUNTER DRUG (CD) BRIGADE CONDUCTING A NIGHT ASSUALT ON A COLOMBIAN REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES (FARC) CAMP. The FARC WERE PROTECTING A COCAINE HCL LAB. THE HELICOPTER CRASHED APPOXIMATELY 8 MILES FROM THE OBJECTIVE. THE TROOPS WERE CONDUCTING THE OPERATION TO SECURE THE AREA FOR AERIAL ERADICATION PROGRAM AIRCRAFT OUT OF TUMACO. ¶3. THE FARC WESTERN FRONT OPERATES IN THE AREA WHERE THE CRASH OCCURRED. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO INDICATION AT THIS TIME THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS HIT BY ENEMY FIRE. ¶4. NAS BOGOTA PERSONNEL ARRIVED AT THE CRASH SITE EARLY ON JANUARY 13 TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND INVESTIGATE THE ACCIDENT. WOOD