By SPA
Washington : A private airplane disappeared on Friday off the coast of Venezuela with 14 people on board, including eight Italians, rescue officials and the Italian government said.
The Czech-made LET L-410 airplane was flying to the Los Roques archipelago from Caracas but never arrived at its destination, rescue workers said.
The twin-engine airplane crashed about 10 kilometers from the Caribbean archipelago, said General Antonio Rivero, director of Venezuela’s emergency-management agency. Another official said the pilot had reported engine problems before contact was lost.
According to Rivero, search teams were looking for the downed airplane from the air and by sea.
“Speed boats, a plane, and a helicopter are searching for the aircraft,” rescue worker Caleb Castro told Reuters.
Eight Italians were on board the airplane, Italy’s foreign ministry said, but provided no further details.
The airplane was being operated by Venezuela-based airline Transaven. Los Roques is a small national park off the coast of Venezuela, known for white sand beaches and clear water and popular with European and U.S. tourists.