The helicopter crashed at around midday local time (16.30 UTC) near El Alto de Rubio in the north-western state of Táchira in Venezuela.

Venezuelan authorities initially reported eighteen casualties but they later reduced the number to seventeen.

[3][1][2][4] Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, who was a retired army Lieutenant-Colonel, announced the incident in his weekly television broadcast and said "I pay tribute to these soldiers of the homeland, especially Gen Faneite, who was my cadet".

It is known that the area was subject to adverse weather conditions prior to the crash.

It is not yet known if the crash is linked to intensified Venezuelan military operations against the guerillas.