5 Survive Plane Crash, Rescued After 40 Hours in Alligator-Infested Swamp

Five people, including a child and the pilot, were rescued after surviving over 40 hours atop a crashed plane in an alligator-infested swamp in Bolivia’s Amazon region.

The aircraft, which took off from Baures heading to Trinidad on Wednesday, April 30, lost contact about an hour into the flight after the pilot reported technical problems. A rescue operation was launched the next day, and local fishermen helped locate the wreckage nearly 48 hours later, on Friday, May 2, according to Bolivian outlets La Razón, Red Uno, and BBC News.

The survivors—three women, a child, and 29-year-old pilot Andres Velarde—were found in “excellent condition,” huddled on the fuselage of the downed aircraft. Emergency footage showed responders carrying them to safety via helicopter.

Bolivia’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that a helicopter equipped with tracking technology and rescue gear was deployed from Santa Cruz de la Sierra to support the search efforts. The rescue team eventually found the aircraft submerged in a swamp near the Itanomas River.

Velarde said he attempted an emergency landing following engine failure but was forced into the swamp when the plane lost altitude. He recounted the terrifying ordeal, saying, “We were surrounded by alligators that came within three meters of us. We couldn’t drink water or move because of the danger.”

He added that leaking petrol from the plane may have kept the animals at bay.

Beni Region Health Director Ruben Torres praised the coordinated effort, saying, “I am really happy because in the end all the institutions joined together to find the missing people and save those lives.”