Incident Details
A twin-engine aircraft departed Puerto Plata-Gregorio Luperón Airport at 1718 local time, bound for Santa Cruz de Barahona. During the flight, the pilot was informed that the destination airport was closed to all traffic after 1700 local time and subsequently decided to return to Puerto Plata. The last radio communication with air traffic control was recorded when the aircraft disappeared from radar screens eight minutes later.
Search and Discovery
Dominican authorities initially suspected the aircraft may have crashed in the septentrional mountain range and initiated search and rescue operations. Several hours later, the wreckage was located in a marshy area of Lake Maracaibo, more than 1,000 kilometers south of Puerto Plata. The aircraft was found to be damaged beyond repair.
Occupants and Legal Status
All three occupants of the aircraft were discovered alive and were arrested by Venezuelan authorities. Venezuelan officials reported that the aircraft and its occupants were engaged in an illegal narcotic flight.