49 Feared Dead As Lao Airlines Plane Crashes Into River

 A Lao Airlines plane carrying at least 44 people and 5 crew members crashed as it tried to land in southern Laos killing all on board on Wednesday, officials said.

The plane travelling from the capital Vientiane plunged into the Mekong River around eight kilometres (five miles) from Pakse airport in Champasak province in southern Laos, officials said.

Lao Airlines confirmed the crash in a statement on its official Facebook page, in which it said there were 44 passengers and an additional five crew. Read the statement after the cut...