Ten die as light plane crashes in Argentina

A Cessna light aircraft crashed today in flooded countryside about 90 miles (150 kilometres) south-west of Argentina's capital…

A Cessna light aircraft crashed today in flooded countryside about 90 miles (150 kilometres) south-west of Argentina's capital Buenos Aires, killing all 10 people on board, police said.

The Cessna 208 aircraft, carrying two crew and eight passengers, was attempting to make an emergency landing when it smashed into private farm land, according to local TN television. The cause of the accident was unclear.

The plane took off from San Fernando, 18 miles north of Buenos Aires, heading for Trelew 600 miles to the south before crashing at about 6 a.m. (10 a.m. Irish time), according to a police spokesman, who asked not to be named.

The smashed aircraft was lying in more than one foot of flood water and seven bodies were still trapped in the wreckage, TN television reported. Local media said there had been heavy rains in the area.

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"Police, firefighters and the Argentine air force are at the scene trying to establish the identity of the dead and the cause of the crash," the police spokesman said.