Costa Rica plane crash: Remains of 2 passengers recovered, search underway

Costa Rica plane crash: Remains of 2 passengers recovered, search underway for German businessman behind Gold's Gym, reports agencies.

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Six people, including the German businessman behind Gold's Gym, were feared dead after a small plane crashed into the Caribbean just off the Costa Rican coast on October 23. Authorities in Costa Rica have today found two bodies in the search for six people, apparently including the German businessman behind Gold's Gym, who went missing when their small plane disappeared from radar just off the country's Caribbean coast. The Security Ministry stated that the bodies of one adult and one child had been found, but that they had not yet been identified. Searchers also turned up backpacks and bags, and pieces of the plane. All five passengers were believed to be German citizens, said Security Minister Jorge Torres. The plane's pilot was Swiss.

Costa Rican authorities said pieces of the twin-engine turboprop aircraft were found in the water on Saturday, a day after the flight went missing. A flight plan filed for the small plane listed Rainer Schaller as a passenger. A man by the same name runs international chains of fitness and gym outlets, including Gold's Gym and McFit. At least one other of those aboard the plane seemed to be a relative of Schaller, but the relation was not immediately confirmed by authorities. Searchers are concentrating on a site about 17 miles (28 km) off the coast from the Limon airport.

The plane disappeared from radar as it was heading to Limon, a resort town on the coast. Security Minister Torres said the flight had set out from Mexico.

The plane was a nine-seat Italian-made Piaggio P180 Avanti, known for its distinctive profile. It disappeared from radar as it was heading to Limon, a resort town on the coast.
The security minister said the flight had set out from Mexico. "Around six in the afternoon we received an alert about a flight coming from Mexico to the Limon airport, carrying five German passengers," Torres said. A search started immediately but was called off temporarily due to bad weather.

Rainer Schaller is listed as the Founder, Owner and CEO of the RSG Group, a conglomerate of 21 fitness, lifestyle and fashion brands that operates in 48 countries and has 41,000 employees, either directly or through franchises. The RSG Group did not respond to requests for comment on whether Schaller had been aboard the plane.

Rainer Schaller was in the news in 2010 for his role as organiser of the Berlin Love Parade techno festival. A crush at the event killed 21 people and injured more than 500. Authorities at the time said Schaller's security failed to stop the flow of people into a tunnel when the situation was already tense at the entrance to the festival grounds.

Schaller fought back against the accusations of wrongdoing, noting that his security concept received official city approval.

(With inputs from agencies)