Overview
- Venezuela’s aviation authority INAC said a PAY1 Piper Cheyenne, registration YV1443, crashed at 09:52 local time during takeoff at Paramillo in Táchira, killing both on board.
- Aerodrome firefighters, Protección Civil Táchira and the National Bolivarian Police responded and contained a severe post-impact fire.
- The civil aviation accident board JIAAC has opened an investigation and is collecting field evidence, with no official cause released.
- Witness accounts and early media reports suggest a possible tire explosion or mechanical failure during the takeoff roll that led to loss of control.
- Media identified the victims as José Antonio Bortone and Juan Maldonado, and Banco Sofitasa’s president said the aircraft belonged to the bank and he flew on it the previous day.