Pubdate: Mon, 05 Aug 2002 Source: Associated Press (Wire) Copyright: 2002 Associated Press Author: Vanessa Arrington, Associated Press Writer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/colombia.htm PILOT WORKED FOR U.S. CONTRACTOR BOGOTA, Colombia -- The pilot who died when his helicopter crashed last week was an El Salvadoran working on anti-drug missions for a U.S. State Department contractor, a U.S. Embassy official said Monday. Thursday's crash of the Huey helicopter killed six men, including pilot Eduardo Gil. Gil worked for DynCorp of Reston, Va., the embassy official said on condition of anonymity. DynCorp is contracted by the State Department to fly crop dusters -- for fumigating drug crops -- and search-and-rescue helicopters. DynCorp also provides pilots for Colombian army helicopters. The helicopter crashed while evacuating U.S.-trained soldiers injured while providing ground cover for the fumigation planes. Rebels, who earn huge profits by "taxing" Colombia's cocaine producers, often fire at the fumigation planes. The helicopter picked up two injured soldiers and then crashed between Solita and Valparaiso in a jungle region 260 miles south of Bogota. The crash is being investigated. Another DynCorp contractor, a Panamanian employed as a computer technician, also died Thursday when he walked into the propeller of a spray plane in Villa Garzon in the southern state of Putumayo, U.S. officials said. Drug trafficking fuels Colombia's 38-year civil war by providing profits to rebels and their paramilitary foes. About 3,500 people die every year in fighting pitting leftist guerrillas against government troops and outlawed right-wing paramilitaries. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk