Colombian bandits steal airplane _ and $610,000 in cash

BOGOTA, Colombia – Authorities in Colombia say bandits stole a small airplane and made off with the equivalent of $610,000 dollars it was carrying.

Colombia's civil aviation says armed men confronted three crew members and a guard as the Piper Seneca landed at a small airport in the northeastern city of Aguachica Wednesday with a load of Colombian pesos it was carrying for a security company.

The robbers then took off in the plane, which was found later about 6 miles (10 kilometers) away, to the south of the city.

Army Gen. Sergio Tafur told local reporters that none of the cash was found on the abandoned plane.

Authorities were searching for the bandits.