Chilean plane crash leaves all four passengers dead

A small plane crash has left all four people aboard dead at an airport just northwest of the Chilean capital city of Santiago, police say.

All passengers died instantly when the small single-engine airplane plunged to the ground at the Chacabuco airport approximately 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the Chilean capital, General Richardo Soler, head of the regional police, told the daily La Tercera on Sunday.

Eyewitnesses say the Cessna 182 aircraft began to smoke soon after takeoff when it travelled some 200 yards and fell vertically into a vineyard, slamming into the ground and bursting into flames.

The victims included the pilot and three young men all under 20 years old.

The airplane belonged to the Universitario Aviation Club and was part of the club’s year-end activities.

Police have begun an investigation on the incident, the official said.