LIMA, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- At least two Americans were among seven people killed when a helicopter crashed and exploded in central Peru, authorities said Tuesday.
There were no survivors in the crash, which occurred Monday afternoon shortly after the chopper took off from Pucallpa Airport in the Peruvian Amazon, CNN reported.
The Peruvian Corporation of Airports and Commercial Aviation said communication with the pilot was lost just minutes after takeoff and a heavy column of smoke was spotted by the airport control tower.
Police said only three bodies were recovered by early Tuesday because the remains of the four other victims were melted into the wreckage.
The three recovered victims were identified only as two Americans and a Peruvian.
Ucayali Region Police Chief Cesar Larrea said authorities believe the two Americans and the Peruvian jumped out before the crash because their bodies had no burn injuries.
