Salvadoran military plane crashes in Pacific, 2 dead

3/12/2021 10:46

        A Salvadoran military plane crashed into the Pacific on Thursday, apparently killing all three people aboard, including the son of the defense minister. The armed forces confirmed that the bodies of two victims had been recovered, and sea searches continued for the third. Those confirmed dead were a crew member of the plane and Gerardo Merino, the son of Defense Minister Francis Rene Merino Monroy. The armed forces did not explain why Merino was aboard the craft, saying only that the plane “was on a mission in the coastal area” when it crashed. The crash occurred about 3 nautical miles off the coast and boats and aircraft were dispatched to help in the search effort. President Nayib Bukele sent a message of condolence to the defense minister.