Chile Air Force Airplane Missing in the Pacific Ocean
As many as 21 people are feared dead after a plane owned by the Chilean Air Force crashed in the Pacific Ocean on the way to the remote islands of Juan Fernandez.
Chile's Defense Minister, Andres Allamand, said the plane had tried twice landing on the airport island before then disappeared from radar.
Meanwhile, Mayor Juan Fernandez Islands, Leopoldo Gonzalez told a national television Chile, TVN, said the weather on the islands was not so good.
"The weather was not good, very strong wind," said Gonzalez.
"We suspect there has been an accident and no one survived," he said, adding a number of passengers and luggage flying debris found on the surface of the water about 0.5 km from the airport.
However, the Ministry of Defence confirmed the status of the aircraft is still missing.
Heavy blow
Meanwhile, President of Chile, Sebastian Pinera convey a sense of deep sorrow to the families of all passengers and crew departed from Santiago at 14.00 local time.
"I hope the family who allegedly killed 21 passengers can face this calamity with fortitude," Pinera says.
"Tragedy is a heavy blow to our country," added Pinera.
Among the passengers Casa 212 aircraft types that are well-known television star of Chile, Felipe Camiroaga.
Felipe along with five crew left the islands to make a film about the reconstruction of the remote region after being hit by the massive earthquake in February 2010.
Other passengers were businessmen Felipe Cubillos - who is the brother-in-law Allamand minister - who was working on post-earthquake reconstruction projects in the islands.
Residents gathered at the headquarters of Chile TVN, lighting candles and praying for the airline passengers.
Juan Fernandez Islands are located 570km from the coast of Chile and is believed to be a classic novel inspired Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe.
Source: BBC
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