比利时飞机失事11人遇难

 　　 比利时飞机失事11人遇难

         BRUSSELS, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- A small plane carrying ten skydivers and one pilot crashed near the city of Fernelmont in southeastern Belgium on Saturday, killing¹ all people on board.

　　According to local media reports, the plane crashed minutes after taking off from an airport near Namur. The skydivers were taking part in a birthday celebration for a 40 year old woman who is also among the victims.

　　"It seems that the plane lost a wing in mid-flight, and it then went into a spin," the Belga news agency quoted Namur mayor Maxime Prevot as sayin.

　　The accident took place just before 4:00 pm local time some 75 kilometers southeast of the capital Brussels.

　　The exact cause of the accident is still unclear.

　　Rescuers found three open parachutes on the ground, indicating that three people had tried to escape the falling Swiss-built Pilatus PC-6 Turbo Porter, but were too late, according to Fernelmont mayor Jean-Claude Nihoul who was cited² by Belga.

　　The victims were almost all between the ages of 20 and 40, according to Nihoul.

　　Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo visited the site of the crash, and said his thoughts were with the families of the victims.

　　"It has been a long time we have suffered a tragedy of such kind," said Di Rupo.

　　Belgian King Philippe also visited the scene of the accident.

1 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

2 cited   

引用( cite的过去式和过去分词 )； 传唤； 记起； [军事]传（或通）令嘉奖

参考例句：

• He cited his heavy workload as the reason for his breakdown. 他说繁重的工作负荷是导致他累垮的原因。
• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat. 医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。