SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — An emergency response team on Thursday reached the remote site of a small plane crash in the Puerto Rican rainforest, recovering the remains of a Caribbean pilot and two U.S. tourists who were on board the aircraft.
The plane, a Rockwell International 690B, took off from Tortola in the British Virgin Islands en route to the Puerto Rican capital.
Several members of the team rappelled to the crash site from a helicopter while the rest were still hiking their way through the dense vegetation.
The cause of the crash was still under investigation, said Karilyn Bonilla, director of Puerto Rico’s office of emergency management.
The twin-engine plane slammed into fog-shrouded El Yunque mountain on Wednesday. The rough terrain in the national forest, about 13 miles east of San Juan, and bad weather prevented the recovery team from reaching the site immediately after the crash.
Talk to us
- You can tell us about news and ask us about our journalism by emailing newstips@heraldnet.com or by calling 425-339-3428.
- If you have an opinion you wish to share for publication, send a letter to the editor to letters@heraldnet.com or by regular mail to The Daily Herald, Letters, P.O. Box 930, Everett, WA 98206.
- More contact information is here.
