ISLAMABAD – A helicopter carrying Bolivian President Evo Morales was forcedto make an emergency landing Monday afternoon due to a mechanical error.
An issue with the helicopter’s tail rotor caused the aircraft to acterratically and prompted the pilot to make an emergency landing in theBolivian town of Colquiri around 12:48 local time, according to a statementfrom Bolivia’s Air Forcelink.
The Air Force confirmed soon after that no one was injured and the exactcause of the rotor issue is under investigation.
Witnesses told the Agencia de Noticias Fideslink that thehelicopter fell to the ground from approximately “15 meters high” duringthe landing.
Morales, the 80th president of Bolivia, has served as the country’s leadersince 2006 and recently won reelection with 47.08% of the votelink.
While Bolivian law does not require a runoff as the head of the Movement toSocialism beat out his opposition, Carlos Mesa, by more than a 10%difference, the opposition leader did not immediately accept the resultslink,Sputnik has reported.
Morales has fired back at assertions that his win was unjust and denouncedrelated claims as an attempt to carry out a coup.