Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Plane crashes off Venezuelan island with 9 people aboard

Gulfstream G-III (c/n 469) N598GS captured at Long Beach Airport (LGB/KLGB) on June 30, 2010 when she was based at the airport. Sadly this is the same aircraft that crashed off the Venezuelan coast on July 4, 2017.
(Photo by Michael Carter)

A large cabin bizjet with nine people aboard crashed Tuesday off the coast of Venezuela as it was attempting an emergency landing. It's not known if there were any survivors.

The Gulfstream 3 (c/n 469) YV-2896 jet was operated by a Venezuelan government agency responsible for transporting public officials. Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said the plane had departed from Margarita Island and reported a mechanical failure around 1:45 p.m. local time. It tried to return to the airport but the failure intensified and it went down in crystal blue Caribbean waters about 45 miles (75 kilometers) from the coast.

There was no confirmation of who was on board the plane but Reverol said that seven of the nine were pilots or personnel working for the government agency, fueling speculation they may have been performing training exercises.

At least 100 people are participating in a search for the aircraft, he said.


(Associated Press)

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