Ecuadorean plane crashes in Colombia

At least four bodies were immediately recovered from debris of the plane, which was scattered in the underbrush and eucalyptus trees that cover the side of the 10,000-foot mountain near Bogota's airport, rescuers said.

The plane crashed into the peak three minutes after taking off at 4:47 p.m. The aircraft, leased to Air France by the Ecuadorian airline TAME, was bound for Quito, the Ecuadorean capital, civil aviation spokesperson Martin Gonzalez said.

"I saw the plane crash into the top of the mountain and flip over. A few seconds later it blew up and our windows shook from the explosive wave," Yesid Gonzalez, who witnessed the crash from his office window, told the Radionet network. He said the jet broke into three pieces.

The Boeing 727 was carrying 43 passengers and a crew of 10, Air France spokesperson Jose Maria Robayo told The Associated Press. Most of those aboard Flight 422 were French and Ecuadorian citizens who had arrived on an earlier flight from Paris, he said. Robayo said there were other Europeans aboard but he did not have their nationalities.

Police said they recovered many body parts but just four bodies. Plane debris, burned clothing and seats were also strewn across the mountainside.

"There are hands, feet and legs. Most of what we have recovered are very small body parts," said a police officer at the scene, Fernando Molino.

Scattered in the rubble were baby clothes, purses with women's makeup, wallets with documents and money, and a child's miniature football. A postcard from Paris picturing the Eiffel Tower and written in Spanish, addressed to Quito.

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