Twelve, including mayor and family, die in Colombia plane crash
What's the story
A plane crash in Colombia killed 12 people yesterday, including a mayor and her family, the aviation and emergency services said. The Douglas DC-3 aircraft, an American-made twin-engine propeller plane that was first produced in the 1930s, crashed in the center-east of the country on a flight between the towns of San Jose del Guaviare and Villavicencio. Read the details here.
Details
Unfortunately, there were no survivors: Aeronautica Civil aviation
After the plane crashed, it caught fire. "Unfortunately...there were no survivors," the Aeronautica Civil aviation authority said, adding the wreckage was found close to Villavicencio. Among the victims were the mayor of the municipality of Taraira, Doris Villegas, her husband, daughter, as well as the owner of the aircraft, pilot Jaime Carrillo, co-pilot Jaime Herrera and an aviation technician identified as Alex Moreno.
Information
An engine failure could have caused the crash, suggests official
Columbia President Ivan Duque paid tribute to the victims on Twitter. "My solidarity with the families," he wrote. The Defensa Civil emergency services put the death toll at 12, with director Colonel Jorge Martinez suggesting an engine failure could have caused the crash.
Reason
Aeronautica Civil shows restraint, gives no details on the cause
"At the moment of flying over the municipality of San Martin, an engine turns off and the pilot ... tries to land ... but it gets out of control," Martinez theorized. But Aeronautica Civil gave no details on a cause and asked the press to show restraint in using images circulating on social media "out of respect for the victims and their families."
Information
The plane owner company declined to comment on the incident
Meanwhile, the fire department confirmed the flight had not faced unfavorable weather conditions. The plane was operated by Laser Aereo, a Venezuelan cargo and passenger transport company. When contacted by the AFP, the company declined to comment on the accident.