San Jose (Costa Rica): Six people, apparently including a German business magnate, were feared dead Saturday after a small plane crashed into the Caribbean just off the Costa Rican coast. All five passengers are believed to be German citizens, according to Security Minister Jorge Torres. The plane's pilot was Swiss.
Costa Rican authorities said pieces of the twin-engine turboprop aircraft were found in the water Saturday, after the flight went missing Friday. A flight plan filed for the small, charter plane listed Rainer Schaller as a passenger. A man by the same name runs international chains of fitness and gym outlets, including Gold's Gym and McFit.
Martn Arias, Costa Rica's assistant security minister, said no bodies had been located yet at the site, about 17 miles (28 kilometers) off the coast from the Limon airport. Pieces have been found that indicate that this is the aircraft, Arias said. Up to now we have not found any bodies dead or alive. The plane was a nine-seat Italian-made Piaggio P180 Avanti, known for its distinctive profile.