A chilling blast from the past. This is Cabeza de avión. A section of a Fokker F-28 aircraft. This isn’t just any plane wreckage. It’s a chilling reminder of a near-miss assassination attempt. An attempt on the life of Argentina’s dictator Jorge Rafael Videla.
On February 18 1977 Videla was aboard the presidential plane Tango 02. He was on his way to Bahía Blanca. The plane took off from Aeroparque Jorge Newbery. The ERP the Ejército Revolucionario del Pueblo planted explosives. They planned to destroy the aircraft. They wanted to kill Videla.
The bombs were placed beneath the runway. A powerful explosion rocked the airport. It ripped up the tarmac. The plane was just meters into the air. It was nearly brought down. Two things saved Videla. The plane took off earlier than usual. One of the bombs malfunctioned. The attempt failed but it was a close call.
The ERP claimed responsibility. They issued a war communiqué. They boasted about their operation. They called it Operación Gaviota Operation Seagull. They described the meticulous planning. They explained how they explored the Maldonado creek’s underground tunnels. They used a modified van to access the tunnels. They placed the explosives. They used a combination of TNT and gelamon.
The operation involved numerous guerillas. They coordinated from various locations using walkie-talkies. The bombs were set to detonate remotely. The explosion happened as the plane lifted off. The plane wobbled but didn’t crash. The guerillas escaped undetected.
The failed assassination made headlines worldwide. It showed the world that Videla’s security wasn’t impenetrable. The audacity of the attack shocked many. The near-miss assassination attempt remains a dark chapter. It’s a story of near success and remarkable failure. It’s also a reminder of the turmoil of Argentina’s past. Cabeza de avión stands as a tangible reminder. A grim monument to a moment when history almost took a different turn. This piece of a plane. This Cabeza de avión. It is a silent witness to a daring act of defiance. It’s a permanent part of Argentina’s complex and troubled history.