Former Chilean billionaire Sebastian Pinera – and friends of Bill and Hillary Clinton – were killed on Tuesday when the helicopter he was believed to be piloting crashed in bad weather.
The 74-year-old financier, who was worth an estimated $2.7 billion, was accompanied by three others in the helicopter, all of whom survived. It is not known whether his fifty-year-old wife, Cecilia Morel, was among them.
The helicopter crashed into Lake Lago Ranco in the south of the country around 3:30 p.m., shortly after takeoff.
Pinera and his family often spent summers in the scenic region of lakes and mountains, 900 kilometers south of the capital Santiago.
Before Christmas, Pinera was in the Dominican Republic with Bill and Hillary Clinton and Mexico’s former president Enrique Pena Nieto.
Sebastian Pinera, then President-elect of Chile, is seen with then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Santiago in March 2010, following a massive earthquake
Pinera is seen with Bill and Hillary Clinton and former President of Mexico Enrique Pena Nieto (third from left) in a December 2023 photo
Search and rescue crews are pictured on Lago Ranco on Tuesday afternoon
Pinera’s body will be carried from the lake Tuesday afternoon
Three days of national mourning have been declared for the Harvard-educated conservative, who served as president from 2010 to 2014, and again from 2018 to 2022.
He led triumphs such as the rescue of 33 trapped miners in the Chilean desert in 2010 after 69 days underground – a feat later turned into a film starring Antonio Banderas and Juliette Binoche.
He also led through turbulence, with rapid economic growth boosting parts of society, but he often claimed he was out of touch with the struggles of ordinary Chileans.
Both of his presidencies were marred by frequent protests.
In his first term, students demanded educational reforms. During his second term, broader and often violent protests against inequality spread across the country, ending with the government promising to draft a new constitution.
Despite praise for his government’s economic performance, many Chileans felt he did not do enough to tackle deep inequality or address shortcomings in the country’s education system.
Pinera’s death was announced by Chile’s current left-wing president, Gabriel Boric.
“He genuinely sought what he thought was best for the country,” Boric said.
‘For example, when he took charge of rebuilding the country after the earthquake of February 27, 2010, or when he took risks to rescue the 33 miners from the San Jose mine, and more recently in managing the pandemic in times of global crisis. insecurity.’
Pinera is seen with his wife of 50 years, Cecilia Morel. The couple had four children
Cecilia Morel shared some throwback photos of the couple from when they first got married
Pinera is seen with his wife Cecilia Morel in a photo she shared on Instagram to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary
Pinera is seen in July with his children and grandchildren, in a photo with the caption: “We are now grandparents of 14!”
Pinera and his wife Cecilia Morel. Last year they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary
After leaving the presidency, Pinera remained active in politics, speaking out on issues such as the attempt to draft a new constitution – which ultimately failed – and supporting conservative politicians in the region, including the Argentine president Javier Milei.
His death was greeted with an outpouring of grief from around the world.
Milei sent his condolences in a message on X.
“On behalf of the State of Argentina, we extend our condolences to the family, friends and residents of Chile,” he wrote.
Former Argentine President Mauricio Macri also expressed sadness at the news of Pinera’s death.
“He was a good man, committed like no other to Chile and to the values of freedom and democracy in Latin America,” he said.
Cristina Kirchner, another former Argentine president, paid tribute to him despite their deep political differences.
“As everyone knows, we did not have the same ideas, but we were always united by a relationship of great respect,” she said.
‘He was a man of the right, but deeply democratic. I fondly remember his sense of humor and the warmth of his family, whom I met in Chile. My condolences to them.”
Pinera and his wife are seen with King Felipe of Spain in a photo shared in September
Pinera with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, in August 2019
Pinera and his wife Cecilia Morel are seen with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and his wife Brigitte, and Donald and Melania Trump at the G7 summit in Biarritz in August 2019
Brazil’s president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, another left winger, also paid tribute.
“Surprised and saddened by the death of Sebastian Pinera, former President of Chile,” he said.
“We worked together to strengthen the relationship between our countries and always had a good dialogue when we were both presidents and even when we were not. Very sad that he passed away so suddenly. My condolences to his family and friends.’
Pedro Sanchez, Spain’s prime minister, praised Pinera for his work in the fight against climate change.
“My condolences to his family and friends, but also to the government and the entire Chilean people. During his term, we strengthened ties between our two countries and together we made COP 25 possible at a crucial time in the fight against the climate crisis. Rest in peace,” he said.