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Plane crashes off Pacific island Plane crashes off Pacific island
(about 11 hours later)
At least 14 people have died after a small passenger plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean near the French Polynesian island of Tahiti. A small passenger plane has crashed into the Pacific Ocean near the French Polynesian island of Tahiti, apparently killing all 20 people on board.
Reports said the twin-engine Twin Otter DHC6 turboprop crashed into the sea just after take-off from the island of Moorea, 17km (10 miles) from Tahiti. The twin-engine Twin Otter DHC6 turboprop crashed into the sea just after take-off from the island of Moorea, 17km (10 miles) from Tahiti.
The aircraft, which was carrying 19 passengers and one pilot, belonged to Air Moorea, a local Polynesian airline.The aircraft, which was carrying 19 passengers and one pilot, belonged to Air Moorea, a local Polynesian airline.
An inquiry is under way but the cause of the crash was not immediately clear.An inquiry is under way but the cause of the crash was not immediately clear.
French Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie issued a statement expressing her condolences, Reuters news agency reported. Two Australian tourists, two European Union officials and a group of Polynesian environmental and tourism officials were among those on board, according to the High Commission for the territory.
She said that Christian Estrosi, secretary of state for France's overseas territories, would go to the region to show the government's solidarity. Rescue workers, helped by French navy ships and local fishing boats, have recovered 17 bodies including that of the pilot, a local official, Jacques Witkowski, told RTL radio.
Five of the passengers were foreigners, including three tourists and two EU officials, AFP news agency reported. French President Nicolas Sarkozy, on holiday in the US, issued a statement expressing his condolences.
The 14 bodies already recovered from the sea have been taken to a nearby chapel for identification. Helicopters are being used in the search for the remaining passengers. "I want to assure the families of the victims, the whole of Polynesia, and the Australian and European authorities, that I share their emotion and hurt," he said.
The secretary of state for France's overseas territories, Christian Estrosi, is being sent to the region to show the government's solidarity.