4 killed after medical plane crashes in Southern Argentina

BUENOS AIRES: Two pilots, a nurse and a doctor were killed Friday after their medical plane crashed at the airport in the southern Argentinean city of Rio Grande, Xinhua reported, quoting the state news agency Telam report.

The plane, a Learjet 35A, plummeted to the ground shortly after takeoff at 2.36 pm local time (1736 GMT), causing a large explosion that could be heard in different parts of the city in Tierra del Fuego Province.

The aircraft on a medical mission had carried a patient to Rio Grande and was preparing to return to the capital city of Nuenos Aires.

"The plane crashed within the grounds of the Naval Air Base, about 1,000 metres from a populated area, leaving a large trail of fire and smoke," Telam reported.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash.

-- BERNAMA