U.S. experts assist Venezuela crash probe

CARACAS, Venezuela, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- U.S. transportation safety experts Tuesday joined the Venezuelan investigation into an airplane crash earlier this month that killed 160 people.

Six experts with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board arrived at the scene of the Aug. 16 crash in northwest Venezuela near the border with Colombia, Globovision TV reported.

The plane carrying around 152 passengers identified as Martinique officials and a crew of eight Colombians.

The West Caribbean Airways MD-82 aircraft reportedly was flying from Panama City to the French Caribbean island of Martinique.

Air traffic controllers lost contact with the plane soon after it reported engine trouble and a loss of altitude.