33 die in Brazilian air crash

2004-05-15 18:32

Rio de Janeiro - All 33 people aboard a Brazilian airliner that crashed in Brazil's Amazon jungle on Friday were killed, the plane's owner, Rico Lineas Aereas, said on Saturday.

"The rescue team we sent told us, sadly, that there were no survivors," a company spokesperson told reporters.

"Access to the area is difficult, but we are ready to begin recovering the bodies," he said.

The plane, carrying 30 passengers and three crew members, crashed on Friday 20km from its destination, Manaus.

The wreckage was spotted by search helicopters near Manaus, where the Negro River joins the Amazon.

The plane, a Brazilian-manufactured Brasilia, took off from the town of Sao Paulo de Olivenca near the border with Colombia and was scheduled to stop at Manaus but never arrived, airline officials said.

"The last radio contact with the pilot took place on Friday at about 22:00 GMT, when the plane was approaching Manaus," said one representative.

Shortly after that conversation, the plane failed to make radio contact with a regional monitoring system and disappeared from radar screens.

Officials said they had immediately reported the incident to the Brazilian armed forces and a search team was dispatched to the region.

They said there was no sign of a fire or explosion at the site of the crash, which initially gave rescuers hope.

Family and friends of those on board the plane had gathered at Manaus airport overnight to await news about their loved ones.

The airline representative said the company set up a crisis counselling network, including doctors, psychologists and members of the clergy, to help the families of those on board the plane. "This system will remain in place," the representative said.

- AFP