14 killed in Venezuela air crash

A plane crashed into the sea off Venezuela today with 14 people on board, including eight Italians.

Search teams in four boats and six helicopters looked for the twin-engine plane, which left Simon Bolivar International Airport near Caracas and hit the sea about 24 miles from Los Roques islands, an emergency agency spokesman said.

Italy’s foreign ministry said eight Italians were on board.

The emergency agency said there were five Venezuelans on board, including the pilot and co-pilot, and that one man’s nationality was still being confirmed.

The agency initially said he was an American, but later issued another statement saying he could be Swiss.

The Los Roques islands are a popular tourism destination, with a national park and world-class scuba diving off white sand beaches.