Aircraft

Recovery personnel have found no survivors after discovering the wreckage of a Boeing 737-200 of Venezuelan carrier Conviasa which disappeared yesterday en route to Latacunga in Ecuador.

Venezuela’s state assembly television station is citing Ecuadorian Red Cross sources as saying that the aircraft was located near a town identified as Toascaso, at the base of the volcanic peak Illiniza Sur, north of Latacunga.

No survivors have been reported among the three crew members – two pilots and an engineer – said to have been on board the Pratt & Whitney JT8D-powered jet.

Ecuador's civil aviation directorate has reportedly confirmed that the aircraft lost contact with Latacunga air traffic controllers shortly before landing at about 21:50 yesterday.

Unverified information from sources close to a Venezuelan search and rescue organisation identifies the aircraft as a 30-year old example registered YV102T, adding that it was being ferried to Ecuador.

There is no evidence of poor weather conditions around Latacunga Airport at the time of the accident, but terrain in the surrounding area is mountainous.