11 die in Brazil plane crash

A twin-engine plane crashed near a private airport in a north-eastern coastal Brazil resort area, killing all 11 people aboard.

The plane crashed and exploded just short of the Terravista Airport, the gateway for well-heeled guests arriving at the exclusive Terravista golf and condominium resort in the town of Trancoso, according to the state-run Agencia Brasil news agency.

It said all 11 people on board the plane were killed.

An Air Force spokesman confirmed the crash near the airport and said that rescue workers were on the scene, but could not immediately confirm any deaths or the explosion.

The website of the O Estado de S. Paulo newspaper said that eight passengers and three crew members were aboard.

The King Air model plane left a Sao Paulo airport at 6:31pm and crashed at 9:13pm, the air force spokesman said. The cause was not known, and investigators were heading to the scene.

Trancoso and its resorts are among Brazil’s most famous because of the area’s pristine beaches, year-round balmy climate and luxury accommodation. The destination is a getaway for rich Brazilians and foreigners.

The Terravista complex and its golf course lie next to a Club Med resort, and the airport boasts a 1,500-metre runway that is illuminated for night landings and takeoffs.