Ecuador Army Plane Crashes in Amazon Region Cost 22 Lives

An army plane with 22 people on board has crashed in Ecuador’s Amazon region. The Israeli-built Arava plane crashed at 14:30 local time (19:30 GMT) in the eastern province of Pastaza.

Nineteen of the people on board were Ecuadoran soldiers travelling for a parachuting exercise.

The cause of the accident is unknown.

There were also two pilots and one mechanic on board, EFE news agency reported.

Defence Minister Ricardo Patino and rescue teams are travelling to the area.