The five passengers and pilot of the HI-363SP six-seater property of Grupo Punta Cana crashed yesterday into a parking lot at Calle Duvergé No. 1, Villa Marina, about a mile away from the Herrera International Airport. The airplane had taken off at around 7 in the morning on its way to the Punta Cana International Airport in the East. While the airplane was totaled, all on board survived. Most suffered burns, but physicians say they will satisfactorily recover. A bus driver, Ramón Herrera Rosario was the first to assist the victims of the crash with escaping from the airplane that caught on fire after the pilot managed to land. The plane landed on the driveway of the home of Felix Terrero after toppling a tree, a light post, and a Mitsubishi Montero jeep parked in the driveway. The jeep caught on fire, causing the explosion of the aircraft prior to the timely escape of the occupants. On board were retired general Francisco Alba Lopez, general manager of the Punta Cana International Airport, pilot Lucilo Peralta Núñez, Walter Zemialkowsky, deputy manager of the airport, Rafael Ramírez, Elsa María de Ramírez and Manuel Pool Johnson. The president of the Grupo Punta Cana, Frank Rainieri said that the causes of the accident are unknown. He said the airplane had undergone all regulatory safety check ups. He pointed out he and his family had flown the same craft yesterday when returning to Santo Domingo from Punta Cana. Following the accident, Terrero urged that the government relocate the Herrera airport to avoid further tragic accidents. The past administration began the construction of the La Isabela Airport in northern Santo Domingo, but the Ministry of Public Works say the government seeks a private partner to pick up the cost of completing the airport.
