Fatal Plane Crash at Paramillo Airport: Venezuelan Aircraft Explodes During Takeoff Killing Two Crew Members

Initial video footage showed the aircraft achieving brief altitude before losing control and crashing in a devastating accident.

A fatal incident occurred at Venezuela's Paramillo Airport in Tachira state on Wednesday when a light aircraft crashed during takeoff, resulting in the deaths of two crew members. The twin-engine Piper PA-31T1 (with registration YV 1443) struggled to gain proper elevation as it attempted to depart at approximately 09:52 a.m. local time. The plane stalled shortly after becoming airborne, crashed onto the runway, and immediately erupted into flames.

The National Institute of Civil Aeronautics (INAC) issued a statement confirming that emergency response teams and firefighters arrived at the scene immediately. Officials have activated the Junta Investigadora de Accidentes de Aviacion Civil (JIAAC) to conduct a thorough investigation into the crash in accordance with Venezuelan aviation regulations.

Witness video captured the horrifying moment:

Dos personas murieron tras el accidente de una avioneta Piper PA-31T1 Cheyenne I, matrícula YV1443, que se estrelló este miércoles en el aeropuerto de Paramillo, en San Cristóbal, estado Táchira, Venezuela.El siniestro ocurrió durante la maniobra de despegue pic.twitter.com/X0ziW08MiW

Early footage reveals the aircraft briefly climbing before losing stability and crashing. Preliminary reports indicate a possible tire burst during takeoff may have contributed to the accident, though investigators are still examining all potential causes.

Social media platforms quickly circulated videos showing dense smoke billowing from the airport runway following the crash. According to flight-tracking website Flightradar24, the aircraft had primarily operated domestic routes within Venezuela but had also recently completed international flights to Panama and Cuba.