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Police find survivors of Brazil plane crash

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-11 09:37

RIO DE JANEIRO -- The three occupants of a twin-engine plane that crashed in Para de Minas, Minas Gerais state, late Monday have been found alive, Brazilian authorities said Tuesday.

Police said the three, who were not immediately identified, suffered only minor injuries. They left the site after the crash.

The pilot told police that one of the engines that activates the plane's landing gear failed. The plane lost power and was destroyed when it crashed in a pasture, police said.

"It could have been a much worse tragedy," said officer Ricardo Carvalho.

On Saturday, a twin-turboprop plane crashed into in an Amazon jungle river, killing at least 24 people.