TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras – Honduras' government says a cocaine-filled plane being pursued by U.S. anti-drug helicopters has crashed, killing the pilot.
Vice Minister of Security Mario Perdomo says authorities estimate the plane was carrying about 2,200 pounds of cocaine, although all but 220 pounds of the drug burned in the crash.
Perdomo told reporters Tuesday that two U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration helicopters were pursuing the aircraft that went down near El Negrito town in northern Honduras.
Perdomo says the plane left Venezuela and was heading to Honduras' Bay Islands, a transit point for U.S.-bound cocaine.
U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Ledy Pacheco declined to comment on whether DEA agents were in pursuit.
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