Small Venezuelan plane reported missing

CARACAS, Venezuela, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- A small airplane was reported missing Thursday in the mountainous western region of Venezuela, Globovision TV reported.

The plane, a jetliner for the Santa Barbara airline, was reportedly en route from Merida in western Venezuela to the capital, Caracas. It was carrying 46 people, published reports said.

Officials said they had no indication what happened to the plane, which did not report to the control tower in Merida after takeoff.