SAN SALVADOR – President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador stated on Saturday that the human remains transferred to his military teams at Haiti’s airport do not belong to the four Salvadorans reported missing following a gang-related incident on October 18.
An El Salvador government official, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization, confirmed the recovered bodies were not those of the missing aviation technicians.
The four missing individuals are members of U.N.-backed gang suppression specialists, though Bukele clarified they are civilian aviation technicians, not combat-trained personnel.
On X, Bukele noted that a non-governmental organization provided remains including a child, a man described as significantly taller than the technicians, and another individual wearing a uniform distinct from Salvadoran military attire. He did not address a fourth body but mentioned identification cards and uniforms from other nations were also present, asserting they are not Salvadoran.
Another government-informed official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press on Saturday night that while four bodies were recovered, official identification remains incomplete.
The New York Times, citing a humanitarian aid group, reported the remains might belong to the Salvadorans, but noted they were “severely burned” and require autopsies for confirmation.
El Salvador deployed over 100 special forces troops to Haiti on October 22, following an operation announcement and a threat of escalated action if the technicians are not rescued alive.
Haiti’s government labeled the incident a kidnapping and prioritized the search for the technicians.
