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Caracas (ANTARA News) - All the 46 people aboard the Santa Barbara Airlines airplane died after the plane crashed on Thursday in Venezuela`s Andean region, Venezuela`s National Civil Protection Department reported on Friday.

The aircraft crashed against a 12,000 foot high mountain at Los Conejos moorland, some 10 kms from Carnevalli airport in Merida state, west of Venezuela.

Venezuela`s National Civil Protection Department Director Antonio Rivero said 43 passengers and three crew members died in the crash.

"The procedures to recover the bodies and the airplane remains are now being complied to determine what caused the accident," said Rivero.

The YV-1449 airplane, flight number 518, crashed half an hour after lifting off from Merida`s Alberto Carnevalli airport heading to Caracas` Simon Bolivar national airport.

The deceased passenger list includes Mayor of Mucuchies Alexander Quintero and his 11-year-old son Eisber Quintero, and two family members of Citizen Security Vice Minister Tarek Al Aissami.

Santa Barbara is a small aircraft company covering national flights in Venezuela.

According to the initial investigations, the climate was normal at the time of the crash, Xinhua reported.(*)

Source