The crash of a plane in the Amazon rainforest sparked sadness after reports emerged about the death of a mother and her four children, along with two adults who were with them in early May. However, Colombia's authorities, specifically President Gustavo Petro, provided uplifting news by announcing that the children, including an infant, were found alive. The oldest child had constructed a small hut as shelter for the younger children amidst the dark and perilous rainforest, which poses various dangers like snakes, poisonous plants, and heavy rainfall.
President Petro tweeted, "A miracle occurred by finding them alive indeed, after they appeared wandering aimlessly." The armed forces stated that search efforts intensified after rescuers discovered a "makeshift shelter built from logs and branches," which reinforced their belief that the children were still alive.
Images released by the armed forces showed a pair of scissors and a hair tie among the branches on the forest floor, and earlier, a bottle of milk for the infant and a half-eaten piece of fruit were found. The Colombian Air Force reported that the mother, Magdalena Mukutuy, the pilot, and another passenger had died in the incident, but the minors had not been located.
Mukutuy was traveling with her children to Bogotá to meet her husband, Manuel Ranuc, and start a new life together. According to The Independent, the father, Ranuc, politically pursued by a tribe, managed to escape on foot through a difficult path and successfully reached Bogotá, but worried for his family's safety in the jungle, he chose to transport them via a small plane. Unfortunately, the flight ended tragically with the plane crash and loss of radar contact amidst the towering trees and challenging search environment.
This area has few pathways, making river access difficult, which is why local inhabitants often opt to travel by plane.
