Chilean air force plane crashes in Pacific

Chile's president and defence minister attened a press conference at an air force base in Santiago London - Arabstoday Twenty-one people are feared dead after a Chilean air force plane crashed in the Pacific Ocean on its way to the remote Juan Fernandez islands. Chilean Defence Minister Andres Allamand said the Casa-212 plane had twice tried to land at the islands' airport before going missing. The islands' mayor said conditions were rough and windy, and passengers' luggage had been spotted in the water. A TV crew was on board, including popular presenter Felipe Camiroaga. The air force earlier said that as the plane was "getting closer to the island, radio communication with the airplane was lost", prompting a search effort by the navy and air force. Mayor Gonzalez told state television TVN that some wreckage had been spotted, suggesting that the plane had crashed. "We assume that there was an accident and that there are no survivors," he said, adding that clothing, passengers' suitcases and some sandals had been found in waters about one kilometre (0.6 mile) from the islands' landing strip. Mr Allamand, however, said the plane was still listed as "missing". He said a navy frigate had been sent with a helicopter to carry out search and rescue work, and that a Hercules 130 plane was due to join the search. Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said that his thoughts were with the families of those on board. "I empathise with the anguish and uncertainty the relatives the 21 passengers aboard the plane, which is presumed to have gone down, are living through at this moment. "This is a very hard blow for our country," he said. Chilean television fans streamed to the headquarters of TVN after the Santiago station reported that five of its staff, including Mr Camiroaga, were among the passengers. Dozens of people lit candles and prayed outside the gates, Reuters news agency reports. Mr Camiroaga, 44, is co-host of the morning talk show Buenos Dias a Todos (Good Morning Everyone) and the late-night talk show Animal Nocturno (Nocturnal Animal). The crew had been on their way to the islands to report on the aftermath of last year's devastating earthquake and tsunami. The Juan Fernandez islands lie around 420 miles (670 km) off Chile's coast.