Following the recent devastating pair of earthquakes in Venezuela, a Miami-based business aviation company stepped up to deliver lifesaving supplies to help with recovery efforts.
South Florida-based 5 Star Jets, a broker, charter, aircraft sales and Part 91 aircraft management company, has teamed up with AMATS JET INC. to send upwards of 20 flight loads of medicine, food, technological equipment, rescue equipment and other critical supplies to the hard-hit country.
Alejandro León, president and COO of 5 Star Jets, said his first call after the June 24 earthquakes was to Geno Haggan, owner of Air Ambulance Worldwide, who helped with the first planeload of supplies.
“And a lot of people started showing up at AMATS in Opa-Locka,” he said, putting the number at 400.
Diego Ovalles, vice president of government and strategic affairs for 5 Star Jets, was already down in Venezuela, working on the company’s application for a Part 135 certificate. He opened a donation center in Caracas the day after the earthquakes, and credited JC Ground Service for its assistance at Simón Bolívar International Airport (CCS) in Maiquetia.
He’s now in La Guaira, in the heart of the disaster zone, coordinating with the Red Cross; Caritas Internationalis, a global confederation of 162 Catholic organizations and others who are helping with the effort, which includes delivering donations ranging from medicine to diapers, baby food and more. The company is working with over 25 volunteers in La Guaira.
5 Star Jets also is working to provide more than 200 Starlinks to provide free internet service, coordinating with the private sector in Venezuela, Ovalles said. León added the company is looking for a Cargo plane to make those deliveries.
The company is also working to bring in rescue teams, including a rescue dog, and a robotic snake to help with recovery efforts.
León praised businesspeople in South Florida and around the country for covering the costs of fuel for the flights.
“The response was unbelievable,” he said. “We received help from North Carolina – basically two guys rented two U-Hauls and drove 15 hours straight,” said Ovalles. Assistance has also come from people in Texas and Central Florida.
“The situation in Venezuela will continue for the next two or three years,” he said. “So our mission will not finish this week. We will continue in this operation and we are asking for support. Because right now, it is a disaster and we have a lot of people without homes. We have a lot of people without work.”
León said that the next phase will focus on helping the thousands of people left homeless. “So we’re asking for support for tents, camping equipment,” he said.
Anyone interested in helping with the recovery effort are urged to contact Ovalles at diego@5starjets.com or (786) 620-7015.
