Colombia, July 10: A Mexican state minister, town mayor and six others have been killed after a plane crashed and burst into flames in northern Mexico, government sources say.
The incident took place as the officials were on their way to the state of Nuevo Leon in northern Mexico for observing the extent of damage caused by hurricane Alex.
The officials were identified as mayor of Mexico’s Piedras Negras, Jose Manuel Maldonado, and secretary of public works and transportation in the state of Coahuila, Horacio del Bosque Davila.
The pilot, who has not been identified, was also believed to be dead.
According to Mexican government-run Notimex news agency, an explosion took place on the twin-engine turboprop Piper Cheyenne plane while it was flying over the Escondido River.
The aircraft, which took off from Piedras Negras, plunged into the Fragua Dam, the report added.
The cause of the crash is under investigation by Mexican authorities.
–Agencies