Gold’s Gym owner and 5 others feared dead after plane crash off the coast of Costa Rica
Two people were killed in a plane crash in Costa Rica, an official said Saturday, raising the threat to three deaths.
Officials identified the two killed as the co-pilot, Rafael Diaz, of the PSA Airlines and the first officer, Roberto Fernandez, of the Costa Rica Air Force.
Fernandez, 51, had been working as an engine mechanic and co-pilot since 2010 on the Airbus 320, operated by PSA Airlines, which has offices on several continents.
His family said he planned to retire with his pay, his employer said.
Two people were killed in a plane crash in Costa Rica, two others were wounded, authorities said Saturday.
Officials said the victims were two passengers, a crew member and an official of the Costa Rica Air Force, all of whom were heading from the San Carlos airport in San Jose to the airport in Puntarenas.
The plane went down near the beach resort of Puntarenas, about 200 miles (320 kilometers) south of San Jose, said a spokesman for the Costa Rica Civil Protection Office.
The official said the victims’ identities were still being determined, but that they were Costa Rican citizens.
It was not immediately clear if the victims were from Puntarenas.
The airline said it was cancelling all flights from San Jose and that its employees were being provided with transportation to Puntarenas, a city about 200 miles (320 kilometers) south of San Jose.
The military said the pilot had been in command. The two passengers had been the first officer and his co-pilot, and were working for the airline.
The Civil Protection office said the two victims had suffered gunshot wounds.
It said the plane had left the airport at around 1 p.m. and was going toward the beach when it crashed.
According to the preliminary report, the plane had taken off from the San Carlos airport.
The two people on board it were reported to be traveling on board for vacation to the Costa Rican beach resort of Puntarenas and, together with three other passengers, to another beach resort on the Costa Rican Pacific coast.
A spokesman for the Civil Protection Office said they were preparing to begin an investigation into the crash.
Investigators were also trying to figure out why the plane crashed at night