One body found as search expands for missing Panama plane

The search area for a missing Cessna 210 carrying six Civil Aviation  officials will be extended on Wednesday after the body of one was found over 17 nautical miles from Playa de Muerto, Darien.

The dead man was identified as Victor Rodriguez, one of six Civil Aviation officials who were in the Cessna 210 which crashed into the sea on Friday August 19.

The aviation authority defended the mechanical condition of the plane and attributed the accident to weather conditions.
More resources have been allocated to the search which has already involved naval vessels from neighboring countries and U.S. military planes that were taking part in maneuvers simulating  the defense of the Panama Canal in case of a terrorist attack.

Spokesman  Gonzalo Vasquez said that  a lifetjacket similar to those used by the authority has been found.