8 foreign tourists killed in Botswana plane crash

Four Swedes, two French and two Britons died when the Cessna 208 plane crashed and burst into flames on Friday, said Chris Nkwe, spokesman for Botswanas Civil Aviation Authority.In Paris, however, the French foreign ministry said in a statement that three, not two, French nationals had been killed. According to Britains Daily Telegraph newspaper, seven victims died inside the aircraft, while another died in hospital after jumping from the craft before it hit the ground.Media reports also said one of the victims was the British pilot. It was not immediately clear how many people were on board, but there were only four survivors a French couple and two Botswana nationals, according to officials. The plane, operated by Moremi Air Charters, was heading to the island of Pom Pom, a luxurious safari destination in the north, but crashed shortly after take off.The French couple who survived the crash were airlifted to a hospital in Johannesburg, where they were treated for burns and other injuries. The respective embassies of the deceased have been notified, said Nkwe.Sue Smart, chief executive officer of Moremi Air Charters, said the private airline in the Okavango Delta had temporarily grounded its fleet pending an investigation. Nkwe said a team of investigators had been sent to the scene. Botswanas Okavango Delta is a high-end tourist destination, popular with foreign visitors.