Searchers "have established visual contact" with the wreckage of the Boeing 737-200 of Venezuela's state-owned airline Conviasa about 50 km south of Quito, Cristina Medina said.

The aircraft and its three crew on a flight from Caracas's Maiquetia airport to Latacunga airport, 80km south of Quito, lost contact late last night with Ecuadoran ground controllers as it had begun its descent to land.

"It is too early to confirm whether the aircraft crashed into a mountain or if there are any survivors," Ms Medina said.

She said rescue teams were hampered by communications difficulties and cloudcover in the rugged, mountainous region.

Source http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24273501-23109,00.html