One Rescued In Water; Three Others Still Missing In Costa Rica

The bodies of two people have been found near the wreckage of a single-engine aircraft (type unknown) after the aircraft went down near the Costa Rican coast.

One other skydiver, American William Slater, 34, was rescued from the Pacific Ocean about 36 miles southwest of San Jose, the Costa Rican capital.

Slater said the aircraft encountered severe turbulence while on a jump mission with five people on board. He said he and two of the other jumpers leapt from the aircraft after "feeling a strong vibration," according to authorities, who were quoted by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Others on board the aircraft were identified by Costa Rican authorities as:

• Pilot Jorge Melendez, Costa Rica
• Instructor Milton Burton, Canada
• Emanuel Sanchez Cornejo, US
• James Simplicio, US
• Jean Roman, US

Of those listed, three are still missing. The bodies found Thursday have not yet been identified, according to officials.

The aircraft was operated by Skydive Costa Rica. Employee Roger Sequeira told the Costa Rican newspaper La Nacion that the group on board was conducting its last flight of the day "because it was dark and began to rain and there was a strong wind."

Wreckage from the single-engine aircraft was reportedly spread over a wide area near Herradura Beach.

FMI: www.skydivecostarica.org