Five Americans were reportedly among 10 tourists who were killed in a plane crash in the Costa Rica mountains on Sunday, according to reports.
The Costa Rican government said that the plane had 12 people on board before it crashed in a wooded area, CNN reported. There were two Costa Rican crew members on the plane.
“There are no people alive,” Security Minister Gustavo Mata said. Autopsies are pending to confirm the victims’ identities, reported Diario Las Americos and the Daily Mail.
The two publications also reported that the American family of five on board the aircraft was Bruce Steinberg, Irene Steinberg, Matthew Steinberg, William Steinberg, and Zachary Steinberg. They’re reportedly from New York.
Our deep condolescenses to Steinberg family.Irene,Bruce and 3 children, from #NewYork are part of the 12 victims #plane #accident#CostaRica pic.twitter.com/2Tcl5eAXV5
— Glenda Umaña (@GlendaAhora) December 31, 2017
Costa Rica’s Ministry of Public Security also posted images of the plane on its Facebook page, showing the flame-engulfed wreck
The crash took place near Punta Islita, in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste province, officials told CNN.
The cause of the crash is not clear.
Costa Rica’s former president, Laura Chinchilla, wrote that a crew member, Juan Manuel Retana, was her cousin.
“A death has interrupted our family celebration. Our beloved cousin died as part of the crew of the plane that crashed in Guanacaste. Courage to his children and siblings and may he rest in peace. You will stay in our hearts dear #Juanmanuel Retana,” Chinchilla tweeted, according to a translation from Spanish.
La fatalidad se interpone en las celebraciones de familia. Nuestro querido primo fallece como parte de la tripulación de la avioneta siniestrada en Guanacaste. Fuerza a sus hijos y hermanos y paz a sus restos.
Permanecerás en nuestro corazón querido #JuanManuelRetana— Laura Chinchilla M. (@Laura_Ch) December 31, 2017
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From The Epoch Times