| geeknerd | 11-04-2010 10:46 PM |
No survivors in Cuban plane crash with 68 aboard
Quote:
Earlier, a spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade said officials were trying to find out if there were any Canadians on board.
“The Canadian mission in Havana is working closely with local authorities and stands ready to provide consular assistance to Canadians as required,” said Alain Cacchione. “We invite Canadians who believe that they have Canadian friends or family who may be affected to call the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.”
Of the people on board, state media said 61 were passengers and seven were crew.
Rescue workers were at the scene and had recovered the first bodies, according to the local state-run newspaper Escambray.
The plane was reportedly a smaller craft belonging to Aerocaribbean, a smaller service that specializes in short hops and is run by Cubana de Aviacion, the country's national, state-owned carrier.
At Havana's national terminal, relatives of those on board the plane were kept isolated from other passengers and journalists.
“This is very sad,” said Caridad de las Mercedes Gonzalez, who was manning an airport information desk. “We are very worried. This has taken us by surprise.”
Calls to the company's headquarters at Havana's Jose Marti International Airport went unanswered Thursday evening.
The plane was travelling from Santiago de Cuba, the country's second-largest city, to the capital, Havana. Local media reported that it fell near the small inland village of Guasimal, in Sancti Spiritus province after issuing an emergency call.
State media gave no details on what happened to the airliner, saying only that the cause of the crash was being investigated.
| so many plane crashes lately | 