When searching for a missing private plane with five German passengers off the coast of Costa Rica, the emergency services discovered two dead. The bodies of an adult and a child were found in the sea, the television station Teletica reported on Saturday, citing the Ministry of Public Security. "There were five passengers and one pilot on the plane -- a total of six people," Civil Aviation Authority director Fernando Naranjo said. "Based on the dates of birth, there were also two children among them."
Parts of the fuselage, seats and several pieces of luggage had previously been discovered around 28 kilometers from Limon Airport. "About 28 kilometers from Limón airport, we found remains in the sea that appear to belong to the plane," Coast Guard chief Martín Arias said on Saturday. A video made available to local media by the Ministry of Security showed, among other things, several backpacks and travel bags.
The machine went missing on Friday evening (local time) on the flight from Mexico to Costa Rica. Communications were lost as the plane approached Limón airport over the sea, the security ministry said. "The plane disappeared from radar about 25 miles from Limón airport. The plane was due to land at 6:58 p.m. We lost it at an altitude of 2,000 feet," said aviation director Naranjo. That's around 600 meters.
German embassy in contact with authorities
Due to unfavorable weather conditions, the search work was initially stopped during the night. On Saturday, the Coast Guard and the Airspace Surveillance Agency resumed the search. A command center was set up at Limón airport to coordinate the search work.
"We are aware of the case," said the Foreign Office in Berlin. "Our embassy in San Jose is in contact with the local authorities to clarify the matter."
According to media reports, the missing plane was a Piaggio P.180 Avanti business jet. She started in Palenque in the Mexican state of Chiapas in the afternoon. The ruined city of the Mayas there is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important archaeological sites in Mexico.
Report Teletica Video Aria's video with remains
