BOGOTA, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Colombia's Civil Aviation Authority said Sunday it has launched search operations for a small plane that went missing with five people on board.
The plane, taking off from Mandinga Airport in Condoto in the northwestern department of Choco, was bound for Guaymaral Airport in Bogota, the capital.
The last communication with the aircraft was recorded at 9:23 a.m. local time, the authority said in a statement. An emergency locator beacon was later activated near Cerro Tatama, about 33 nautical miles from the Pereira VOR navigation beacon.
Authorities said the search was being hampered by difficult access to the area. ■
