A small plane today fell into the Río de la Plata river with an unkown number of passengers on board. Four of them were already rescued and transferred to hospitals in Buenos Aires and Uruguay, and at least five people were reported dead. Two people were still trapped inside the craft.
A rescue helicopter arrived on the scene from Uruguay to salvage those on board, who were pictured waiting on the aircraft fusilage. Following the rescue, with one passenger transported from the wreckage in a stretcher, the Dauphin 091 transferred some of them to San Fernando airport, where ambulances and emergency services awaited their arrival.
Security Secretary Sergio Berni was overflying the area.
The craft took off from the Buenos Aires locality of San Fernando, in Argentina, and was flying to the city of Carmelo, in neighbouring Uruguay.
Argentine textile businessman Federico Bonomi admitted to be the owner of the craft, although he was not on board.
«I have no further information yet,» he told reporters and confirmed, both the pilot, identified as Leandro Larriera, and one of the passengers, Sebastián Vivona, were close friends of Bonomi and work mates for a long time.
Uruguayan Navy spokesman Gastón Jaunsolo had earlier confirmed that the passengers raised the alarm after their plane, a BE020, had suffered a malfunction.
«Seven people are waiting to be rescued, 10 kilometres to the south-east of Carmelo,» Jaunsolo explained.
«The craft went down due to a malfunction, and on avoiding a heavier impact [those aboard] were able to make a distress call.»
buenosairesherald.com