JOIN USMohammed Sherief Saboerali, deputy head of the Aviation Authority, said the twin-engine Antonov 28 that crashed was with Blue Wings Airline, a small Paramaribo-based airline.
The eight people missing in this former Dutch colony on South America's northeastern shoulder included two local pilots, and six Surinamese passengers, Saboerali said.
"I cannot confirm if they are alive or dead, as we cannot reach the area," Saboerali added. There was no immediate word on the possible cause of the crash.
The flight took off from the domestic airfield at Godolo at 1500 hours local time yesterday and aviation authorities learned around 1530 that the plane crashed in a dense forest near the French Guiana border, some 200 kilometres southeast of the capital, Paramaribo.
Due to bad weather, authorities said they were unable to send out rescue flights on Saturday, but that they planned to send them early on Sunday.. French Guiana will likely assist with rescue helicopters, authorities in Paramaribo said.
The company flies within Suriname and to neighbouring French Guiana, a French overseas territory.In April 2008, Blue Wings lost another Antonov 28 when it crashed at Benzdorp, near the border with French Guiana, killing 19 people.