Small plane carrying tourists crashes in El Salvador, 3 killed

Small plane carrying tourists crashes in El Salvador, 3 killed

2011-05-16 04:37:17 GMT+7 (ICT)

SAN SALVADOR (BNO NEWS) -- Three people were killed on Sunday afternoon when a small plane carrying Chinese tourists crashed in central El Salvador, police said.

The small aircraft belonging to Pulsar Group went down near the town of Ilopango in San Salvador department, located in the central region of El Salvador. A total of three people were on board.

The National Civil Police said the remains of three people, who were badly burned, were recovered from the wreckage which was found in a wooded area. The cause of the accident was not immediately known.

Police identified the tourists as two 49-year-old and 42-year-old Chinese citizens, while there were conflicting reports about the nationality of the pilot. Some reports identified the pilot as an Israeli citizen, while other reports identified him as a local national.

In August 1995, a total of 58 passengers and 7 crew members were killed when a Boeing 737-200 slammed into the San Vicente volcano in central El Salvador during a storm. It was the deadliest aviation accident in El Salvador's history.

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