Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said on 30/7 that a Cessna C208B Grand Caravan, tail number 4292, belonging to the country's air force crashed in a forested area in the southern state of Amazonas the previous day.
The aircraft was carrying 10 people at the time of the accident, including two pilots and 8 passengers. "Unfortunately, the co-pilot and 6 other people died. Their bodies will be recovered as soon as possible," he said. The three survivors, including the pilot, were rescued and are receiving medical care.
Minister Lopez emphasized that the Venezuelan military deployed air and ground forces to search for the aircraft immediately after the C208B disappeared from radar. He also offered condolences to the victims' families.
Amazonas Governor Miguel Rodriguez said some members of the indigenous Yanomami community and medical personnel were on board. The aircraft was transporting these individuals from the city of Puerto Ayacucho to their homes in the Alto Orinoco region of Amazonas state.
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A Venezuelan Air Force Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in 2011. Photo: Airliners |
A Venezuelan Air Force Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in 2011. Photo: Airliners
The crashed aircraft belonged to a Venezuelan air force unit that supports indigenous communities in the remote Amazon region. Initial investigations suggest a technical malfunction caused the accident.
The Grand Caravan is a small, multi-purpose aircraft manufactured by the US company Cessna. Production began in 1982, and approximately 3,000 have been built. The aircraft involved in the crash was manufactured in 2006.
The Cessna C208B is commonly used for flight training, passenger and cargo transport, and humanitarian missions. The aircraft has a cruising speed of 345 km/h, a range of 1,980 km, and can carry 9 to 13 passengers.
Pham Giang (According to AFP)
