Eight dead in small plane crash in Mexico

A small private airplane crashed shortly after take-off in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas, killing at least eight people and sending a plume of black smoke over the airport, officials said.

Luis Manuel Garcia, an official at the Chiapas civil protection service, told reporters yesterday that the preliminary reports indicated that three adults, three minors and the pilot and co-pilot died in the incident at Tuxtla Gutierrez airport.

Witnesses saw smoke coming out of an engine after the Piper PA-31 Navajo airplane took off. Television images showed a huge tower of smoke billowing from the airport after the plane hit a meadow, sparking a brush fire.

Local media said the victims included a family heading to their native state of Oaxaca.

ALSO READ

Agent in America raises funds for Imran's party, sends over $7 lakh

Violence grips Bangladesh as Islamists demand stricter blasphemy law

David Cameron warned: 'Shed elitist image'

Prince William may give up his role as search and rescue pilot after becoming father