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Argentine soldiers die in plane crash
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) -- An Argentine air force plane providing aid for Bolivian flood victims crashed outside of La Paz on Thursday, killing all six people on board, authorities from both countries said.
The Learjet 35A was returning from the Bolivian capital to Argentina when it apparently had a mechanical failure, said Argentine air force Commodore Guillermo Lozada.
The cause of the crash will be investigated, Lozada said.
The plane crashed in Bolivia's high plains about 12 miles (20 kilometers) southeast of La Paz, Bolivia's capital, according to local Radio Fides. Witnesses said they heard a loud explosion before the plane went down.
"The plane completely disintegrated," said Col. Johnny Vera of the Bolivian armed forces.
The Argentine Embassy could not immediately confirm the victims' names.
The plane had been providing technical support to an Argentine team of aid workers in Bolivia to help flood victims, said Pablo Prosperi, spokesman for the Argentine Embassy in Bolivia.
That team departed Wednesday night and arrived safely in Argentina, Prosperi said. Other aid planes have delivered medicine and medical supplies.
The Argentine mechanics who had worked on the plane in Bolivia went down with the craft.
"The plane had been repaired in Bolivia by three mechanical specialists ... and they were three of the deceased officials," Lozada said.
Argentine Health Minister Gines Gonzalez Garcia on Wednesday had traveled aboard the twin-engine jet, but decided to return home on an earlier flight.
"I was with that group on the trip there yesterday in the morning, Gonzalez Garcia said. "The mechanical problem was going to be resolved right away, but because I had work to do I returned before.
"As far as I could see, everything was absolutely normal."
Bolivia has suffered an abnormally high level of rainfall in past months which has caused rivers to break their banks, destroying bridges and crops in 85 percent of the country. More than 23,000 people have been displaced by the floods.
Bolivia has received millions of dollars in help from several aid groups and countries including the United States, Brazil, Venezuela and Argentina.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americ...ion=cnn_latest
Members of Bolivian rescue team carry the body of a victim of a plane crash victim in Keluyo, some 35 km (22 miles) in the outskirts of La Paz, March 9, 2006. Argentine military officials were killed on Thursday when their plane crashed as it was taking off from El Alto airport near La Paz, six people on board the executive jet crashed when the plane disintegrated soon after leaving the runway at about 3.30 p.m. local time. REUTERS/Stringer
A Bolivian soldier walks past wreckage of a plane in Keluyo, some 35 km (22 miles) in the outskirts of La Paz, March 9, 2006. Argentine military officials were killed on Thursday when their plane crashed as it was taking off from El Alto airport near La Paz, six people on board the executive jet crashed when the plane disintegrated soon after leaving the runway at about 3.30 p.m. local time. REUTERS/David Mercado
Members of a Bolivian rescue team inspect site of a plane crash in Keluyo, some 35 km (22 miles) in the outskirts of La Paz, March 9, 2006. Argentine military officials were killed on Thursday when their plane crashed as it was taking off from El Alto airport near La Paz, six people on board the executive jet crashed when the plane disintegrated soon after leaving the runway at about 3.30 p.m. local time. REUTERS/David Mercado
A Bolivian soldier holds a bag containing wreckage from an Argentinian Air Force jet that crashed nearly 12 miles southeast of Bolivia's capital, Thursday, March 9, 2006. An Argentine air force plane providing aid for Bolivian flood victims crashed outside of La Paz on Thursday, killing all six people on board, officials from both countries said. (AP Photo/Dado Galdieri)
Bolivian soldiers secure the bodies of six military men from an Argentine Air Force plane after they were killed when their plane crashed nearly 12 miles southeast of Bolivia's capital La Paz, Bolivia in El Alto, Thursday, March 9, 2006.(AP Photo/Dado Galdieri)
A Bolivian soldier walks pass wreckage of a plane in Keluyo, some 35 km (22 miles) in the outskirts of La Paz, March 9, 2006. Argentine military officials were killed on Thursday when their plane crashed as it was taking off from El Alto airport near La Paz, six people on board the executive jet crashed when the plane disintegrated soon after leaving the runway at about 3.30 p.m. local time. REUTERS/David Mercado
Bolivian soldiers carry the body of one of six military men from the Argentine Air force who died when their airplane crashed nearly 12 miles southeast of Bolivia's capital La Paz, Bolivia in El Alto, Thursday, March 9, 2006. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Bolivian soldiers secure the bodies of six military men from the Argentine Air force who died when their airplane crashed nearly 12 miles southeast of Bolivia's capital La Paz, Bolivia in El Alto, Thursday, March 9, 2006. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
R.I.P
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