Today, October 13th, Marks 52 Years Since The Crash Of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 On Its Way From

Today, October 13th, marks 52 years since the crash of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 on its way from Mendoza, Argentina, to Santiago, Chile.

17 of the 29 victims of the accident passed away during or shortly after the crash, or during the first night on the mountain. Below, you can find their photos and a short bio for each. May they rest in peace, and may their families find peace on this day and every day.

Eugenia Dolgay de Parrado, age 50. Eugenia was the mother of Susana and Nando Parrado, and had come on the trip at the invitation of her son. Eugenia is described by her son as a quiet but strong woman, “full of encouragement and sage advice, with deep reserves of resourcefulness and good judgment that won her the respect of everyone who knew her.” While waiting to take off from the airport in Mendoza, she handed out candy from her purse to the boys around her. Eugenia died instantly during the crash, and is buried on the mountain with her daughter, Susana. 

Graziela Gumila de Mariani, age 43. Graziela bought her ticket aboard Flight 571 at the last minute, as she was flying to Chile for her daughter’s wedding. She was sitting in the front of the plane, and suffered two broken legs during the crash. The boys tried to free her afterwards, but she was inextricably pinned by the mass of seats that were crushed together in the impact. Two boys, Rafael Echaverran and Moncho Sabella, took turns holding her hand throughout the night in an attempt to comfort her. She passed away from her injuries early the following morning.

Colonel Dante Lagurara, age 41. Lagurara was a lieutenant colonel in the Uruguayan Air Force, and the co-pilot of the Fairchild. According to Alive by Piers Paul Read, one of his last acts before the crash was to tell Ramirez to, “make sure that the unruly passengers did as they were told” and took their seats. He survived the initial crash, but was pinned to his seat by the instrument panel. The boys tried in vain to free him, but were only able to feed him some snow and remove the cushion from his seat before returning to the fuselage. He passed away from his injuries during the first night.

Esther Horta Pérez de Nicola, age 40. Esther was the wife of Francisco Nicola, the Old Christians’ team doctor, and the mother of four young sons. Both were avid supporters of the team, and were excited to see them play in Chile. Esther died on impact when she and her husband were thrown forward into the wall separating the luggage compartment from the main cabin.

Dr. Francisco “Pancho”  Nicola, age 40. Dr. Nicola was the Old Christians’ team doctor, and an avid supporter of both the team and the Stella Maris College. While onboard the plane, he joined in the playful energy of the boys, catching a rugby ball thrown across the cabin by Roberto Canessa. He left behind four young sons. He and his wife both died immediately on impact.

Colonel Julio César Ferradás, age 39. Ferradás was an experienced pilot, having served in the Uruguayan Air Force for nearly 20 years, and completed 29 flights over the Andes. Ferradás died on impact.

Lieutenant Ramón Martínez, age 30. Martínez was serving as the steward aboard Flight 571. He spent his last moments playing cards with several of the boys in the back of the plane. He was one of the passengers sucked out of the back of the aircraft when the tail was cut off. 

Sergeant Ovidio Joaquín Ramírez, age 26. Ramírez was an Air Force sergeant who served as purser and navigator aboard Flight 571. Ramírez was sucked from the back of the aircraft and died upon impact with the mountain.

Julio Martinez Lamas, age 24. Julio was an avid supporter of the Old Christians’ team, and a friend and soccer teammate of Numa Turcatti and Coche Inciarte. Julio survived the initial crash, but passed away during the first night from his injuries.

Daniel Shaw Urioste, age 24. Daniel was an alum of the Stella Maris College, a substitute player for the Old Christians, and a cousin of Fito and Eduardo Strauch. He was also a close friend of Marcelo Pérez and a former full time player on the team. Moments before the crash, he begged his cousin Fito to switch seats with him, but Fito refused, inadvertently saving the latter’s life. Daniel was sucked from the back of the plane when the tail was cut off by impact with the mountain.

Gastón Costemalle, age 24. Gastón was a former player and captain of the Old Christians team, a law student, and a close friend of Numa Turcatti, Pancho Delgado, Coche Inciarte, Marcelo Pérez and Eduardo Strauch. Gastón was instrumental in convincing many non-players to join the trip, including Coche, Pancho and Numa. He perished along with several others when he was sucked from the rear of the plane.

Guido Jose Magri, age 23. Guido was an agronomy student, an active Old Christian’s player, and a longtime friend of Nando Parrado. He was engaged to be married at the time of the crash, and was very excited to spend his time in Chile planning the wedding with his fiancee, who was the daughter of a Chilean diplomat. Guido perished with several others after being sucked from the rear of the plane.

Felipe Maquirriain, age 22. Felipe was an economics student, a Stella Maris alum, and a friend of Arturo Nogueira, Pedro Algorta and Enrique Platero. Felipe suffered blunt force trauma during the crash, and passed away during the first night due to his injuries.

Francisco “Panchito” Abal, age 21. Panchito was a Stella Maris alum and a talented rugby player who held the winger position for the Old Christian's First 15. Panchito was also Nando Parrado's closest friend, and was considered to be a second son by Nando's parents, Seler and Eugenia, as well as a surrogate brother by his sister, Susy. Moments before the crash, Panchito convinced Nando to switch seats so that he could have a better view of the mountains, a split-second decision that would save Nando's life but cost Panchito his own. Panchito suffered severe head trauma during the crash, and passed away during the first night on the mountain from his injuries.

Jorge Alexis Hounie, age 20. Alexis, known as “Alejo” by his friends, was a Stella Maris alum, a scrum-half on the Old Christian’s First 15, and a veterinary student. Alexis was sucked from the back of the plane along with several of his friends and teammates, and perished upon impact with the mountain.

Fernando “Flaco” Vasquez, age 20. Flaco was a friend and classmate of Roberto Canessa, and a medical student. Roberto and Flaco were seatmates on the plane. Flaco suffered an amputation of his lower leg during the crash, and passed away before Canessa or Zerbino could attend to his wounds.

Carlos Valeta, age 18. Carlos was a Stella Maris alum, a medical student, and a friend of Gustavo Zerbino and Carlitos Paez. He was not a player on the Old Christian’s team, but he was an avid team supporter. Carlos was sucked from the rear of the plane, miraculously surviving the impact, but falling down the mountain to his death as he tried in his shock to reach the other survivors.