Asuncion, (EFE).- President of Paraguay, Mario Abdo Benítez, parachuted Sunday from a military plane over the Ñu Guasu Air Base in the city of Luque, on the outskirts of Asuncion, as part of a commemorative display the 100 years of military aviation of the Paraguayan Air Force (FAP).
“We are very happy to be able to participate in this historic event. As Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I think I am the first in history to parachute,” said Abdo Benítez after landing on the state channel Paraguay TV.
The head of the Paraguayan Executive said he had recalled his days as a paratrooper, when he completed his mandatory military service “more than 30 years ago.”
“We returned to our house, to enjoy the skies and this beautiful sport that is skydiving,” he commented.
The president congratulated the Air Force of his country for the “magnificent show” they are offering in this military exhibition.
Along with Abdo Benítez, the Paraguayan Minister of the Interior, Federico González, who, according to the president, had not jumped for 36 years, also parachuted.
“I had already jumped as a senator 7 years ago, but he (González) has not jumped for 36 years. So it really is a great credit to him,” she said.
In a video broadcast by the press team of the Presidency, Abdo Benítez dressed in the FAP paratrooper uniform is observed from inside the plane, seconds before jumping.
“Long live Paraguay!” Shouted the president at the time of throwing himself, as seen in the video.
In the military exhibition you can see training and military transport aircraft, including a Boeing C-17 Globemaster of the United States Air Force, which landed this Saturday in the Paraguayan capital.
The US Embassy in Paraguay indicated, through a statement, that this plane arrived in the South American country “to enhance the celebrations of the centenary of military aviation of the Paraguayan Air Force.”