Small plane crashes in Suriname, all 8 aboard feared dead

By AP
Saturday, May 15, 2010

8 feared dead in plane crash in Suriname

PARAMARIBO, Suriname — A small plane crashed in rough weather Saturday in the South American country of Suriname and all eight people aboard are feared dead, officials said.

The crash occurred in a thick forest about 200 miles (300 kilometers) southeast of the capital of Paramaribo, said Air Traffic Services Director Kenneth Dors.

The search for the captain, co-pilot and six passengers will not begin until Sunday morning because it was getting dark and heavy rain was unrelenting, he said. Several nearby Amerindian communities said they would try to reach the site and provide help if needed, Dors added.

The twin-engine Antonov was operated by Surinamese carrier Blue Wing airlines.

The captain reported bad weather conditions shortly after taking off from a small airstrip near Godo Holo and was headed toward Paramaribo, Dors said.

Airline officials were not available, and the nationality of the crew and passengers was unclear. Blue Wing reported a similar crash two years ago involving the same model.

Nineteen people died in April 2008 when the plane crashed as it approached an airstrip in the Benzdorp region, near the French Guiana border.

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