KUWAIT, Nov 5 (KUNA) -- Search crews combed through charred rubble in central Cuba early Friday after a fiery plane crash killed 68 people, according to the CNN, citing reports broadcast by the Cuban state media.
The Aerocaribbean plane was carrying 40 Cubans and 28 foreigners. None of them survived the crash. Photos posted on websites showed rescue crews using heavy machinery to comb through the rubble. Flames still engulfed part of the plane.
The flight was traveling from the eastern province of Santiago de Cuba and heading to the country's capital of Havana, Cubadebate reported.
The Civil Aviation Institute of Cuba said Flight 883 lost contact with air traffic controllers around 5:42 p.m. Thursday (Cuba local time).
The plane crashed in a rural part of the central province of Sancti Spiritus, Cubadebate said. Residents in the area said the plane made several sudden movements before plunging to the ground.
Passengers include 40 Cubans, nine people from Argentina, seven people from Mexico, three people from the Netherlands, two from Germany, two from Austria and one person each from Spain, France, Italy, Japan and Venezuela.
The last plane crash in Cuba occurred in March 2002. (end) rk KUNA 051319 Nov 10NNNN