A twin-engine Piper PA-31T1 aircraft crashed during take-off at Paramillo Airport in Venezuela's Tachira state on Wednesday morning, claiming the lives of two crew members.
NDTV reported that the small aircraft, bearing registration YV 1443, failed to gain altitude as it attempted to depart around 09:52 a.m. local time. Witnesses reported the plane stalled shortly after liftoff before crashing back onto the runway and erupting in flames.
The National Institute of Civil Aeronautics (INAC) confirmed emergency and firefighting teams arrived on scene immediately. The agency has activated the Junta Investigadora de Accidentes de Aviacion Civil (JIAAC) to investigate the crash in accordance with Venezuelan regulation.
Early video footage shows the aircraft momentarily gaining height before losing control and plummeting to the ground. Preliminary sources point to a possible tire burst during the takeoff roll, though investigators have not yet determined the cause.
Social media users posted videos showing thick plumes of smoke billowing from the airport runway following the crash. Flight-tracking website Flightradar24 indicates the aircraft had been operating flights within Venezuela and had recently traveled to Panama and Cuba.
Authorities continue to examine the wreckage and gather evidence as part of the ongoing investigation.
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