A Laos Airlines plane plunged into the Mekong river in southern Laos on Wednesday, killing all 49 people on board...<br/> <br />The aircraft, which was flying from the capital Vientiane was just eight kilometres short of its destination.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Lao) UNIDENTIFIED WITNESS AND PAKSE RESIDENT, SAYING:<br/> <br />"The plane flew in that way heading towards Marong village and turned towards the airport. Then it fell and crashed."<br/> <br />The airline has suggested that bad weather may have contributed to the accident.<br/> <br />Strong winds from the tail end of a typhoon have been passing over the area, making it a difficult task for divers trying to retrieve bodies from the muddy river.<br/> <br />Bodies that have already been recovered were laid out at a nearby temple.<br/> <br />Investigators sift through the wreckage to determine the cause of the crash, that killed nationals of ten countries, ranging from Australia to France.<br/> <br />The aricraft -- an ATR-72 turboprop -- was brand new.
