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Four Americans die in Mexican plane crash

ENSENADA, Mexico, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- Four Americans died when their plane crashed shortly after taking off from a Mexican airport, officials said.

The dead include two doctors, the pilot and a non-medical support team member en route to a medical mission in the Mexican state of Baja California, CNN reported.

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Flying Samaritans President Victor Jones said the plane lost contact with the ground Friday and the wreckage of the Beechcraft A36 plane with four bodies was found Saturday "after an extensive ground, air and water search."

The wreckage was found in rough terrain about 30 miles south of Ensenada, Mexico, a city on the Pacific coast, where the plane had departed Friday afternoon for San Quintin, Mexico.

Jones identified the victims as Dr. James Thornton, Dr. Graciela Sarmiento, Andrew Theil, a non-medical support staffer, and pilot Roger Lyon.

Flying Samaritans transports medical and support personnel to places around the world to provide free medical services and supplies to those who lack medical care, CNN said.

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