SANTIAGO, Chile, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Four bodies have been plucked from the Pacific Ocean in the area where a Chilean military plane went down carrying 21 people, an official said Saturday.
The Chilean air force plane disappeared Friday after twice trying to land on the Juan Fernandez Islands. The bodies were found Saturday by fishermen helping with the search operation, The Santiago Times reported.
Air Force Secretary-General Maximiliano Larraechea said many parts associated with the plane had been recovered by search crews.
Many of the passengers were employees of Chile's TVN, including well-known TV host Felipe Camiroaga, CNN Chile said.
"This is a tough blow to our country, but it is precisely these moment of anguish and uncertainty that require the unity and solidarity of all Chileans," President Sebastian Pinera said.
The plane took off from the Santiago Airport in Chile at 2 p.m. Friday and lost contact with air control at 6 p.m., AccuWeather.com reported.
Eric Leister of AccuWeather.com said high winds may have caused the crash.
"Winds were sustained at up to 20 mph with higher gusts throughout the day out ahead of a cold front approaching the area. Showers and thunderstorms were also reported in the vicinity around the time of the crash, so wind gusts may have been even stronger locally," Leister said.
