Plane Crash in Peruvian Andes Kills American, 11 Others

An Aeroperu plane carrying 69 people crashed seconds after takeoff from an Andes airport Tuesday, and officials said 12 people were killed, including an American and three Europeans.

An Aeroperu spokesman said 56 people were injured and one person was missing.

Survivors said there was an explosion aboard the Dutch-built Fokker just after it departed from the Manco Capac airport at Juliaca, about 540 miles southeast of Lima.

The state-operated airline identified the dead American as Douglas Harris but listed no hometown.

Transportation Minister Camilo Carrillo Gomez told reporters in Juliaca that pilot Fernando Bellina swerved the stricken craft in an effort to return to the runway but that it crashed in a pasture. The twin-jet plane broke in two and the rear section burst into flames, witnesses said.

Officials said the cause of the accident was under investigation.

The airline spokesman said Caroline Dunning and Katherine Kraus of the United States and Luana and Rafael Gianinazzi of Italy were hospitalized in Lima with grave injuries.

Among 11 foreigners treated at the Juliaca hospital were Francois Savoir, Michael Reilly, Bernard Mahoney and Mark Krankin, all with U.S. passports.

The plane was en route from Juliaca to Arequipa, 120 miles southwest of Juliaca. Tourists often take the flight to return from visits to Lake Titicaca.