Amazon: Five Survive 36 Hours on Plane Wing Surrounded by Alligators

The harrowing story of five individuals, including a young child, who survived for 36 hours stranded on the wing of a small plane surrounded by alligators in the Amazon has captured global attention. The aircraft, which had departed from the city of Baures bound for Trinidad, made an emergency landing in a river after losing engine power. On Thursday (May 1), radar lost contact with the plane, prompting immediate rescue operations by local authorities in Bolivia’s Amazon region. Despite the challenging conditions, the three women, the child, and the 29-year-old pilot were found alive 48 hours later by local fishermen near the Itañómas River in a remote area filled with swamps and marshes. Authorities reported that all survivors were in ‘excellent condition.’ According to the pilot, the engine failure forced him to land the plane in a swamp near a lake. He recounted how they stood on the plane while being surrounded by alligators, some as close as three meters away. The fuel leak around them reportedly deterred the reptiles from approaching further. With no access to clean water and unable to move, the group survived by eating flour brought by one of the women. After being located by the fishermen, a helicopter was dispatched, transporting the survivors to the nearest hospital for precautionary checks. Health Department Director Rúben Torres praised the coordinated efforts of all agencies involved, expressing relief at the successful rescue.