Officials in Venezuela have revised the passenger totals of those onboard CONVIASA Flight 2350, the ATR42 that crashed yesterday morning in Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela. At a news conference last evening, officials said that there were 51 people onboard, 47 passengers and 4 crew members onboard. Orginally, they had said that there were 47 passengers and crew onboard. They also reported that of those onboard, 11 passengers and all 4 crew members, were killed in the crash. Earlier reports yesterday had said that all 4 crew members had survived the crash. Flight 2350 was on Domestic Service from Porlamar on Margarita Island, to Puerto Ordaz, a suburb of Ciudad Guayana. The crew declared an emergency as they approached Puerto Ordaz, reporting technical problems. Shortly before the actual impact, the crew reported that they had lost control of the ATR. At about 10:00am, the aircraft crashed in a steel mill yard at the state-run Sidor steel foundry, about 6 miles from the Puerto Ordaz Airport. A Best Western Hotel clerk reported that he saw the plane tumble into some power lines before hitting the ground and exploding. Last night, a Venezuelan television station interviewed a passenger in hospital who had suffered minor injuries in the crash. According to the passenger, shortly before the crash, the ATR filled with thick black smoke. The engines then failed and the aicraft felt like it was gliding. The passenger confirmed that the aircraft struck power lines before crashing to the ground. Another media report said that the ATR that crashed, registration YV-1010, had a history of maintenance issues. Venezuelan investigators are on the scene and said the cause of the crash had not been determined and remains under investigation.
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