Zulian airline Santa Barbara Flight 518 was supposed to depart at 2 p.m. from Merida but finally did at 4:50 p.m.

VHeadline.com Spanish Edition Chief Jesus Nery Barrios writes: According to reports from Merida's radio station 105.7 FM El Pedregal, part of the radio national network Fe y Alegria, the flight 518 from Zulian airline Santa Barbara was supposed to depart at 2 p.m. from Merida but finally did at 4:50 p.m., with no explanation about the delay.

Pedro Belandria, reporting from Alberto Carnevali Airport in Merida, where the airplane fled to Maiquetia, north of Caracas, informed that the relatives of the passengers and Merida's Governor, Florencio Porras, are in those facilities since last night waiting for information.

The same source also reported that among the 46 passengers are Mr. Oscar Lucentini, director of the National Center for the Advancement of Science (CENAMEC in spanish); Italo Luongo, a political commentarist opposed to President Chavez; and the Mayor of the Meridean municipality of Rangel Alexander Quintero, along with his 11-years-old son.

Also it was reported that the national director of Venezuela's Civil Defense and the national authority of Civil Aeronautics are in the town of Mucuchies, the capital of the municipality of Rangel since 5 p.m., coordinating the rescue activities, in front of at least 70 officials and two helicopters providing the respective support.