Polynesia air crash kills at least 14

PAPEETE, France, Aug 10 (Reuters) A passenger aircraft crashed in French Polynesia, killing at least 14 people, French authorities in Papeete said.

An Air Moorea Dornier aircraft with 19 passengers and a pilot on board overshot Moorea Island runway and crashed into a lagoon yesterday after taking off, a police spokesman in Papeete said by telephone.

Police said 14 bodies had been recovered including that of the pilot but no survivors had been found as yet. The search for the remaining passengers was continuing.

A spokeswoman for Air Moorea said all 20 people aboard the aircraft were feared killed.

''The investigation is under way there now and police are stil combing the area,'' a police spokesman said.

The plane crashed around 12:15 pm local time yesterday.

French Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie issued a statement expressing her condolences and saying that Christian Estrosi, secretary of state for France's overseas territories, would go to the region to show the government's solidarity.

Reuters RC VP0725