Jalisco Civil Protection Director Trinidad Lopez Rivas hasn’t given up hope of finding the bodies of two foreigners who almost certainly died in a light plane crash in Puerto Vallarta, but admits the possibility become less likely as time goes by. Tourist Varsha Maisuria and her skydiving instructor Robin Ballachey became entangled with the plane as they made a tandem jump May 7. The Cessna descended to a low height before crash landing into the sea about half a kilometer from a local beach. The pilot and two passengers survived but Maisuria and Ballachey sank along with the plane.
Lopez Rivas says the depth of water where the plane sank is around 1,000 meters and that his department does not have the equipment to dive to that level. Federal authorities are now responsible for the rescue effort but, as yet, have not brought in a special team to search for the wreckage.
Lopez Rivas said Navy patrols based in Vallarta, as well as his own personnel, continue to comb the surface of the ocean for any sign of the deceased women.
Relatives of Maisuria, a British citizen who worked for the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office, say they have tried to find a local company that has appropriate equipment to recover the plane but have so far been unsuccessful. They ask anyone local with information that might help to contact them directly at maisuriafamily@gmailThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">.comThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">.