Two Americans died when their light aircraft crashed in Zapotlanejo, a town in the western Mexican state of Jalisco, the state Public Security Directorate said on Wednesday.

 

Officers said remains of the crash victims and debris from the plane, which was registered in the US state of Texas, were spread over an area of 200 square meters, close to the La Carrera Ranch, 40 km southeast of the state capital Guadalajara.

 

The two who died were Daniel Chuiec, who was the pilot, and Terry Tatty, his co-pilot, Guadalajara Airport director Martin Duran told reporters.

 

Air traffic control authorities lost contact with the aircraft at 11:15 p.m. on Tuesday night. The crash scene was located early on Wednesday.

 

The Lear jet belonged to private jet company Amerijet, which flies tourists and business people all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America and the Caribbean.

 

Soldiers have cordoned off the scene of the crash and there is no word yet on the cause of the accident.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 11, 2007)