Three dead after plane crash in Fiji

Three people are dead after a plane crashed in Fiji overnight.

The Cessna 172 crashed in rugged country near Lautoka in the western part of Viti Levu, the Fiji Times reported today.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Rusiate Saini told the newspaper three people were dead.

The aircraft belonged to the Advance Aviation Training Academy.

Advance Aviation Training (Fiji) Ltd manager Deborah Hinton said the plane was on a scenic flight flown by a commercial pilot and did not involve any student pilots or flight instructors.

A student from the academy said the plane, which was flown by Fijian pilot Frederick Mitchell and two Canadian tourists, left Nadi airport after 3pm yesterday afternoon to fly around Lautoka and Nadi.

- NZPA