Miracle in the Amazon: Five Survive 36 Hours on Plane Wreck Amid Alligator-Infested Swamp
Mai 2, 2025
In a dramatic story of survival against nature's harshest odds, five individuals—including a child—were rescued after spending 36 harrowing hours atop a downed aircraft in a treacherous Amazonian swamp teeming with alligators and other dangerous wildlife. The incident unfolded in Bolivia’s remote Amazonas region after their light aircraft, a Cessna 172CP, was forced to make an emergency landing following an engine failure.
The small plane had vanished from radar over the Beni Department, prompting an urgent search and rescue mission led by Bolivia’s Air Force and Emergency Response Command. After 48 hours of uncertainty, local fishermen finally spotted the stranded aircraft, partially submerged near the Itanomas River.
Miraculously, all five people onboard survived unscathed—three women, a child, and the 29-year-old pilot, Andrés Velarde. Officials from Beni’s emergency operations center confirmed that the survivors were airlifted to a hospital in good condition.
“We Were Surrounded by Alligators”
Speaking to local media, pilot Velarde recounted the chilling experience. He explained that a sudden loss of altitude during a routine flight from Baures to the city of Trinidad left him no choice but to land the aircraft in swampy terrain near a lagoon. “We were surrounded by alligators, some came within three meters of us,” he said, describing how the group had to remain on the plane’s fuselage to stay safe.
He believes the smell of leaking fuel from the aircraft may have deterred the predators from getting closer. To make matters worse, the group also spotted a massive anaconda lurking in the murky water nearby, further emphasizing the dangers they faced.
Without access to fresh water and unable to leave their perch due to the wildlife, the group subsisted on cassava flour brought by one of the passengers. “We couldn’t drink and we couldn’t move,” Velarde said. “We were just waiting and hoping.”
Swift Response and United Effort
The rescue was the result of a coordinated effort involving several government bodies. President Luis Arce confirmed the operation on May 1, announcing the immediate mobilization of air and ground rescue units to locate the missing aircraft. “We activated a full emergency response with the support of the Bolivian Air Force and local search services,” he posted on social media.
Beni Region Health Director Rubén Torres addressed the widespread speculation that followed the plane’s disappearance, stating that multiple theories had circulated during the 48-hour window. “We are relieved and proud that all institutions worked hand in hand to bring these people home safely,” he told Reuters.
A Stark Contrast to Other Aviation Disasters
This remarkable story of survival stands in contrast to a tragic incident just days earlier in White County, Tennessee, where three people died after a Mooney M20TN aircraft crashed. The Bolivian ordeal, by comparison, ended not in tragedy but in triumph—thanks to quick thinking, resilience, and a massive inter-agency response.
This Amazon survival tale is a testament to human endurance and the value of rapid emergency coordination. It also highlights the unpredictable challenges faced by those navigating remote regions of South America. For now, Bolivia celebrates what could have been a devastating loss—turned into a miracle of survival.