Mexican Media "2 Koreans Dead in Helicopter Crash"
Unfamiliar Names on the Victim List
Embassy of Korea in Mexico "Identified as Chinese"
A helicopter crashed in the heart of Mexico City, resulting in the deaths of three people. Local media initially reported that the deceased, excluding the pilot, were Korean nationals, but this was later revealed to be incorrect.
On the 16th (local time), the Mexico City Prosecutor's Office (FGJCDMX) announced that on Sunday the 14th, a helicopter carrying tourists crashed while flying over Coyoac?n, a central area of Mexico City. The volatile helicopter fuel leaked and caught fire, damaging nearby passenger cars as well.
On the 14th (local time), wreckage of a crashed helicopter on a road in Coyoacan, Mexico City. [Image source=AFP Yonhap News]
Regarding this accident, the Mexico City Prosecutor's Office issued a press release the previous night stating, "It has been confirmed that one Mexican pilot and two foreigners on board the helicopter died." They added, "DNA comparisons with relatives of the deceased were conducted," and "There were no additional casualties as there were no people nearby at the time of the helicopter crash."
Major local media outlets such as El Universal, Reforma, Milenio, and El Heraldo de Mexico cited "sources familiar with the investigation" or "informants well aware of the incident" to report that the foreign nationals who died were all Korean. Reforma published a list of the deceased in English, but the names listed were not commonly used by Koreans.
According to confirmations made by the Korean Embassy in Mexico through the Chinese Embassy and others, the deceased are identified as Chinese nationals. It has also been reported that no Korean residents or tourists connected to this accident have been confirmed within the major Korean communities in Mexico City.
Meanwhile, Mexican authorities have obtained statements from witnesses present at the scene during the crash, indicating that "the helicopter appeared to perform evasive maneuvers to avoid crowds at a nearby market."
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