Light plane crashes in Venezuela, killing three

CARACAS, March 21 (Xinhua) -- A light plane crashed into three houses on Sunday in the Venezuelan state of Sucre, 400 km east of the capital Caracas, and a newspaper reported three people were killed in the crash.

People gather around the scene where a L-39C plane crashed at a slum 300 meters away  from the international airport Antonio Jose de Sucre in Cumana, capital of Venezuelan state of Sucre, March 21, 2010. The light plane crashed into three houses on Sunday  killed at least 6 people and hurt 3. (Xinhua/Jose Guilarte)

An officer of Sucre's Civil Protection told Xinhua the plane crashed some 200 meters from the international airport Antonio Jose de Sucre in Cumana, capital of the state.

"We are waiting for the reports of the aeronautic experts," theofficer said without giving further details.

According to local daily "El Universal," three people died and at least 13 were injured.

Among the dead is the pilot of the private plane, which took off from Margarita Island, 38 km north of Sucre.

On April 28, 2008, a Cessna light plane crashed into a house a few meters from Caracas' Simon Bolivar international airport, killing four people died and injuring eight others.