Five minutes after taking off from Cochabamba's Jorge Wilstermann Airport, one of the plane's four engines reportedly caught fire.[3][4] The aircraft subsequently crashed into a lagoon in the Andes, some 20 miles from the city of Cochabamba.[5][6][7] It was the worst aviation accident in Bolivia's history at the time.[8]
The pilot was one of the airline's most experienced aviators, especially over the mountains of Bolivia.[9][10]
Passengers
Out of the 59 onboard, one child survived the initial crash, but died due to their injuries while being taken to a hospital by rescuers.[5] Among the passengers were four families.[11]
Aftermath
The airline canceled all flights the day of the crash for mourning.[11] The accident was blamed on a technical defect.[12]
