Aircraft disappears with 11 paasengers on board

An Atlantic Aviation twin-engine aircraft disappeared after taking off from Cibao International Airport (MDST/STI) in Santiago at approximately 1600 local time on 15 December 2008. The aircraft, which was en route to Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands, had 11 passengers and one pilot on board. The U.S. Coast Guard is assisting in efforts to locate the aircraft, though rescue efforts were temporarily suspended until the morning of 16 December due to bad weather. The pilot sent a distress signal to the Providenciales air traffic control center approximately 40 minutes into the flight.