Seven individuals perished on Friday when a small aircraft they were aboard crashed in southern Chile, according to the nation's civil aviation authority.
Communication with the Piper Navajo plane was lost at 9:13 am (1313 GMT), shortly after its departure from Coyhaique, approximately 1,700 kilometers (1,000 miles) south of Santiago.
The General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC) confirmed the pilot and six passengers were killed, but did not specify the reason for the crash.
Presidential delegate for the region, Rodrigo Araya, has directed the prosecutor's office and the Forensic Medical Service to investigate the incident.
Due to challenging weather conditions in the mountainous region, it is unclear when the victims' bodies will be recovered.
Army General Mario Sepulveda noted a severe weather front with snow is approaching, which could delay recovery efforts by a few days.
The crash coincided with another fatal incident in Brazil where a passenger plane fell from the sky, resulting in the death of all 61 occupants.
