Guatemala plane crash kills 10 including Americans

Humanitarian group based in West Jordan

Published: Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008 3:41 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
GUATEMALA CITY — A small plane carrying U.S. humanitarian workers crashed in a field in eastern Guatemala on Sunday, killing 10 people, including five Americans, an aviation official and a survivor said.

The Cessna Caravan 208 was on route to the county of El Estor when it crashed in a field of crops about 60 miles (100 kilometers) east of Guatemala City.

The pilot called in engine trouble about 45 minutes after takeoff and tried to make an emergency landing, Civil Aviation director Jose Carlos said.

Eight passengers were killed, along with the Guatemalan pilot and co-pilot, Carlos said.

He said five of the passengers killed were Americans, but the nationalities of the other three had not been determined.

Four other Americans on board were injured and were being airlifted to a hospital in the capital. Carlos did not know the hometowns of the Americans.

Sarah Jensen, a 19-year-old who survived the crash with minor cuts and bruises, said she and her family were headed to a village in El Estor to build homes for CHOICE Humanitarian, a group based in West Jordan.

Her brother and father were killed in the crash, and her mother had serious burns and contusions. The family is from Amory, Wisconsin, Jensen told The Associated Press in a brief interview at the hospital.

Story continues below

It was unclear if the other Americans were also with CHOICE Humanitarian. The group did not return calls Sunday afternoon.

Aero Ruta Maya, the airline operating the plane, said only 12 people were on the plane, including the pilots, a discrepancy that could not immediately be resolved.

Joanne de Bickford, who said she was the daughter of the airline's owner and was helping manage the crisis, confirmed there were Americans on board. She said the airline did not know how many people died.

The army provided a list of passengers, but the names appeared to be garbled. The U.S. Embassy did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Recent comments

I knew John Carter. He was a very special person and will be missed....

Valorie Thompson | May 4, 2009 at 7:03 a.m.

I tried to think long and hard of someone who didn't like jeff...and...

Anonymous | Sept. 3, 2008 at 7:28 p.m.

We will never forget these people...They will live in our hearts...

Keith | Aug. 29, 2008 at 12:43 a.m.

previousnext

Latest comments

Trivia about time

Then there's 09:09:09 09/09/09. Wow, all the possibilities.

In addition to the great testimonials about the Swim Kids program, I must add...

Trivia about time

And next year we'll have 05:06:07 08/09/10. Big deal.

my family was there to see the Jonas Brothers

Such a big and special moment for all those who attended, only to find out...

BYU will need to win it's last 4 games and Ventura County Fusion or LA...

Stadium of Fire is about making money. If you are critical you are said to be...

There goes another GM stock. Then again, who cares about the little...

Farming for the needy

ITS GOOD THEY HAVE A GOOD MANAGER LIKE STEVE WOOD WHO HAS BEEN THERE FOR MANY...

Keep in mind what the Jazz paid Okur - a guy who didn't hit 10 points per...

Advertisements