Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.
February 25, 2008

Venezuela Begins Recovering Bodies from Andean Plane Crash
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1B59BCB:A6F02AD83191E160149673B8796A2FBAA13B8D4F2090AB2B& 46 died in plane
crash in Andes Mountains 





Forensic and rescue workers work near the wreckage of a plane, in a
mountainous area near Merida, Venezuela, 24 Feb 2008Venezuelan
authorities say search teams have retrieved several bodies from
Thursday's plane crash in the Andes Mountains that left 46 people
dead.

Search teams had to be dropped off at the crash site by helicopter
because of the steep mountain terrain. The victims included
Venezuelans, Colombians and an American citizen.

Investigators recovered the black boxes (flight data recorders) from
the wreckage Saturday. The voice and data recorders could provide
clues about why the plane crashed shortly after it departed the city
of Merida on its way to Caracas.

Pilots need special training to fly from the Merida airport because
the city is surrounded by mountains and planes must ascend sharply at
takeoff.

Some information for this report was provided by AP.






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