What happened
On June 6, 2012, a cargo flight operated by Air Class Líneas Aéreas departed from Montevideo Airport bound for DHL logistics. The aircraft involved was a Fairchild Metroliner, bearing the registration N345AS. Shortly after leaving the runway, the plane crashed into the vicinity of Isla de Flores in Uruguay.
The wreckage remained undiscovered for more than a month due to the challenging underwater terrain and visibility conditions. Eventually, a scuba diver located the debris field approximately 2 kilometers southwest of the island. The crash resulted in the deaths of both individuals on board.
Investigation
Authorities launched an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the accident. The primary challenge for investigators was the delayed recovery of the flight data and cockpit voice recorders, as well as the physical wreckage, which had been submerged for over thirty days. This delay complicated the reconstruction of the final moments of the flight.
Findings
The investigation confirmed that both occupants perished in the incident. The location of the crash site was definitively established near Isla de Flores. No further details regarding specific mechanical failures or pilot error were provided in the source material, but the event is recorded as a fatal accident involving a cargo Metroliner during the initial climb phase.