An ATR 42-300 operated by Venezuela’s Santa Barbara Airlines has gone missing while on a domestic flight.

The aircraft remains unaccounted for several hours after it was due to have arrived at its destination airport. There are also unconfirmed reports that witnesses have come forward saying they saw it crash not far from the departure airport at a site 4,750m above sea level, although some of the information is contradictory.

The aircraft was being operated by local carrier Santa Barbara Airlines. Venezuela’s Globovision television says it was operating as flight 518 between Merida and Caracas and departed at 16:59 local time on 21 February on an intended 1hr, 45min-long flight.

Civil aviation authorities have reportedly identified the ATR 42-300

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