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A twin-engine jet departed from Miami-Dade County on Thursday evening with approximately 3,000 pounds of humanitarian aid bound for earthquake victims in Colombia. Volunteers loaded the Bombardier Learjet 60 at Opa-locka Executive Airport before its 5:45 p.m. takeoff, with the aircraft arriving at Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport in Palmira at 8 p.m., according to flight tracking data.
The relief mission was organized by the Help Land Foundation, a Miami-based nonprofit established in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian in 2019. Ender Urdaneta, representing the organization, emphasized that the supplies were specifically designated for rescue teams operating in the Cali region of Colombia.
A devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday morning, leaving at least 273 people dead as of Thursday evening. Authorities reported approximately 3,824 injured individuals and indicated that more than 40,000 families had been affected by the disaster.
Jose Ecarri of the Miami Pilots Association secured the aircraft through a personal connection with its Colombian owner. Ecarri, himself a pilot, successfully borrowed the jet for the humanitarian mission and coordinated with Juan Rojas of Legacy Aviation to serve as the flight’s pilot. Rojas was scheduled to return to Miami-Dade on Friday morning.
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