CARACAS, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- A small plane crashed shortly after taking off from Venezuela's capital Caracas, and all five people on board were missing, the Minister of the Interior and Justice Nestor Reverol said on Saturday.
The Learjet 25, which can seat two crew and up to 10 passengers, had taken off from the country's main Simon Bolivar International Airport, located 21 km from downtown Caracas, on its way to the Venezuelan city of Barcelona, in east Anzoategui state.
The aircraft disappeared from the radar soon after taking off, said Reverol.
Venezuela's Civil Protection agency and Coast Guard said they have detected parts and traces of fuel in the ocean some 5 nautical miles (9 km) from the coastal village of Naiguata in north Vargas state, where the plane is believed to have crashed.
Rescue teams have been dispatched to the site, said the minister.