Plane crash kills 19 in remote Suriname
Tragic death: Rescue workers carry the remains of passengers of a Blue Wing Airlines Antonov AN-28 plane that crashed in a remote gold-mining area of Suriname with 19 passengers and crew on board after they were brought to Paramaribo's Zorg & Hoop airport last Thursday.Picture: Reuters
Saturday, April 5, 2008
NINETEEN people including two children were killed last Thursday when a Russian-built airplane on a domestic flight crashed in the former Dutch colony of Suriname, President Ronald Venetiaan said.
The twin engine Antonov 28 belonged to Blue Wing Airlines, a small Paramaribo-based air carrier.
"From the 19, two are pilots and 17 are civilians," among them "two children between four and five years old," Venetiaan told reporters at the military base adjacent to the Paramaribo airport.
Local press earlier had announced that the victims included seven Brazilians, attributing the information to the airline, although authorities could not confirm the figure.
Airport officials had originally said 20 people were killed.
The plane took off from the airport at 10am and crashed about an hour later in a mountainous region near the French Guiana border, the airline said.
The flight was bound for the town of Bennzborp, a gold mining area near French Guiana, on the northeastern shoulder of South America.
Early reports said the plane exploded when it crashed.
"There were three explosions," said rescue team leader Gerel van Embrwks, adding that the plane was still burning when rescuers arrived at the crash site.
Arai Carcuil, father of the plane's captain, 36-year-old Suragni Carcuil, said he received a call from his other son who told him that "the plane exploded as it crashed into the mountain."AFP
The twin engine Antonov 28 belonged to Blue Wing Airlines, a small Paramaribo-based air carrier.
"From the 19, two are pilots and 17 are civilians," among them "two children between four and five years old," Venetiaan told reporters at the military base adjacent to the Paramaribo airport.
Local press earlier had announced that the victims included seven Brazilians, attributing the information to the airline, although authorities could not confirm the figure.
Airport officials had originally said 20 people were killed.
The plane took off from the airport at 10am and crashed about an hour later in a mountainous region near the French Guiana border, the airline said.
The flight was bound for the town of Bennzborp, a gold mining area near French Guiana, on the northeastern shoulder of South America.
Early reports said the plane exploded when it crashed.
"There were three explosions," said rescue team leader Gerel van Embrwks, adding that the plane was still burning when rescuers arrived at the crash site.
Arai Carcuil, father of the plane's captain, 36-year-old Suragni Carcuil, said he received a call from his other son who told him that "the plane exploded as it crashed into the mountain."AFP
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