King Air Accident in Uruguay Claims 10

An Argentinian-registered Beechcraft King Air B90 crashed at approximately 8:37 p.m. on Thursday shortly after takeoff from Punta del Este Airport, Uruguay. The aircraft came to rest in a five-foot-deep lake that borders the airport. A fire of unknown origin destroyed much of the aircraft; it is unclear whether the fire began before or after the accident.

The aircraft was carrying two pilots and eight passengers, all of whom perished in the crash. The passengers, seven Argentinians and one Portuguese, were employees of the Argentinian construction company La Rural. Weather in the area at the time of the accident was reported as "poor."