The head of El Salvador's police force is among nine people who died when the military helicopter they were travelling in crashed in the Central American nation on Sunday evening local time.
Police Director-General Mauricio Arriaza was escorting a suspect in a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme to the capital, San Salvador, when the helicopter came down shortly after take-off.
Salvadorean President Nayib Bukele wrote on X that he did not think the crash should be considered an accident and ordered an investigation. President Bukele said flags would be flown at half-mast for three days in honour of Mr Arriaza.
Under Mr Bukele, the country's shocking homicide rate dropped, but human rights groups say security has come at a cost, with some suspects arbitrarily detained and denied access to fair trials.
President Bukele praised the late police chief as "a fundamental part of bringing peace and security to our people". Mr Bukele said he would request international help to examine the causes of the crash.
El Salvador's Armed Forces said the UH-1H helicopter came down near Pasaquina, some 10km (six miles) from the border with Honduras. The helicopter was carrying Police Chief Arriaza, Mr Coto and a TV news crew, according to local media.
All those on board died in the crash, the Salvadorean military said.
Mr Arriaza had travelled to the Honduran border to take Mr Coto into custody. Honduran officials said police had captured the former bank director as he was trying to make his way to the US with the help of a people-smuggler.
News of his arrest caused surprise and confusion as it was not widely known that he had been on the run. In fact, the Salvadorean authorities had announced back in July that Mr Coto had been detained in Panama. It is not clear how he came to be in Honduras.
Mr Coto was one of 32 people accused of embezzlement and money-laundering over the disappearance of $35m from the coffers of the COSAVI credit union. El Salvador's attorney-general accused the group of syphoning off money from people's savings and using it to buy luxury flats and cars, among other items.
In total, 15 people have been detained in connection with the case. Among them are Mr Coto's parents.
The Crash Investigation
Coto, the former manager of the COSAVI savings and loan cooperative, had been the subject of an Interpol arrest warrant and one of 32 people implicated in the embezzlement of more than $35 million by the cooperative's directors and employees. Coto was arrested Sunday while "driving with a human trafficker to the United States," according to Honduran Security Minister Gustavo Sanchez.
El Salvador's military in a post on social media said the air force helicopter crash occurred in the area of San Eduardo, Pasaquina, La Union. It said the director general of the National Civil Police, Mauricio Arriaza Chicas, was aboard.
The state-run Canal 10 TV channel said David Cruz, the head of communications for El Salvador's security ministry, was also killed in the crash. Others on board the Salvadoran Air Force UH-1H helicopter were two high-ranking commissioners, a corporal, a sergeant and two lieutenant pilots, according to officials and the defense ministry.
El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele said in a post on X that "what happened cannot remain as a simple 'accident'" and must be investigated thoroughly "and to the ultimate consequences. We will request international help."
Bukele noted that Arriaza Chicas had led the government's fight against the gangs that once dominated daily life for much of the Salvadoran population. Bukele's harsh crackdown on the gangs and mass arrests of more than 80,000 people with little due process have been condemned by human rights organizations.
"Your legacy will remain forever in our minds, your tireless dedication to the transformation of this country will live in the hearts of thousands of Salvadorans," Bukele wrote on social media.
Arriaza's Legacy and Security in El Salvador
Security specialist Luis Contreras said it was unlikely Arriaza Chicas' death would negatively impact the war against the gangs, which the government claims it has all but eliminated. "In El Salvador there are many experienced people and police commissioners who could replace the late director," Contreras said.
Contreras maintained that the gangs no longer have the capacity to react. "Crime is not eliminated, but rather neutralized," he said. "The neutralization El Salvador's government has achieved against the gangs has been almost 90%."
Bukele ordered flags to fly at half-staff Monday in remembrance of Arriaza Chicas, whom he described as a "national hero." "All flags, throughout the national territory, as well as in our embassies and consulates, will fly at half-staff for three days in honor of the director of the National Civil Police," Bukele said on social media.
Meanwhile, the bodies of the victims were taken to the capital in a caravan guarded by police.
The Gang Crackdown and Its Controversies
Bukele's crackdown on gangs has drawn criticism from rights groups but has won him sky-high approval ratings. Supporters credit him with returning a sense of normality to a violence-fatigued society. The country last year recorded its lowest homicide rate in three decades, turning it from one of Latin America's deadliest countries into one of its safest.
But it has come at a cost. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have reported the killing and torture of detainees, and thousands of innocent people -- including minors -- among those arrested.
As of February of this year, more than 78,000 arbitrary detentions have been registered leading to prison overcrowding of approximately 148%, with at least 235 deaths in state custody, according to Amnesty International. The organization also reported 327 enforced disappearances.
The Aftermath of the Crash
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through El Salvador, with many expressing grief and mourning the loss of the police chief and other officials. The incident highlights the challenges facing the country as it grapples with its ongoing security situation.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing, and authorities have promised to conduct a thorough probe to determine the cause. The incident has also raised concerns about the safety of air transport in El Salvador and the potential risks associated with transporting high-profile prisoners.
The death of the police chief has left a void in El Salvador's security apparatus, and the government is now faced with the task of finding a suitable replacement. The incident will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the country's fight against crime, and it remains to be seen how the government will respond to the challenge.
The Path Forward
The tragic helicopter crash has cast a shadow over El Salvador, leaving behind a sense of loss and uncertainty. While the government vows to investigate the incident thoroughly, the country faces difficult questions about its security strategy, its commitment to human rights, and the future of its fight against crime. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the complex challenges facing El Salvador and the need for a comprehensive and balanced approach to addressing these issues.
The crash has also underscored the importance of transparent and accountable governance, as well as the need for international cooperation in tackling complex challenges. As El Salvador mourns its fallen officials, it must also look forward, seeking to build a safer and more just society for all its citizens.
