This is the unsettling final image of a missing millionaire family hours before their deaths in a suspected private jet crash. Rainer Schaller, 53, from Germany, is understood to have been on a flight earlier this week from Mexico to Limon with his partner, Christiane Schikorksy, and their kids, Aaron and Finja.
The family were onboard the Piaggio 180 jet that was travelling towards Juan Santamaría airport, when it seemingly vanished off the coast of Costa Rica. Their chilling final snapshot together shows the family of four all smiling into the camera as they huddled together for a group selfie, the Mirror reports.
Marcus Kurreck, who is understood to be a personal trainer, was also onboard the aircraft, with Costa Rica's public security minister, Jorge Torres, confirming that the five German nationals were onboard the missing jet. The aircraft reportedly lost communication with the airport's control tower at around 6pm when it was soaring 20 miles off the coast near the Parismina area.
Schaller founded McFit - the largest fitness centre chain in Germany. A spokesperson for McFit has also reportedly confirmed that Schallerr and his family were on the plane. Jeanine Minaty told German website BILD : "We don't know anymore at the moment.".
The private plane took off from Palenque in Mexico two hours and 41 minutes before it lost contact with the control tower near Limon. And according to FlightRadar, the plane was 69 metres above sea level and flying at a speed of 274mph when it disappeared.
An urgent rescue operation was called off a few hours later due to adverse weather conditions. The National Coast Guard and the Air Surveillance Service then resumed their search today and reportedly found parts of the twin-engine turboprop aircraft in the sea..
Martin Arias, Costa Rica’s assistant security minister, said no bodies had been located yet, as reported by ABC News He revealed : ''Pieces have been found that indicate that this is the aircraft, up to now we have not found any bodies dead or alive.”
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