Technical error behind Laos plane crash

Preliminary investigations have suggested that "technical error" during landing probably caused last week's Laotian plane crash in which deputy prime minister Douangchay Phichit was killed, a security official Tuesday said.

There were no problems during the plane's takeoff or in flight nor was there any data to suggest there were technical problems onboard the aircraft, Xinhua reported citing the official.

Due to low altitude, the aircraft's landing gear hit some trees on the airfield perimeter while approaching the runway, which probably caused the tragic crash, the official said.

Authorities said three people were rescued from the crashed plane. Two of the survivors remained in critical condition.

The three survivors are a security guard, a doctor and a flight attendant.

The Laos air force plane was carrying senior officials of the government when it crashed Saturday in a province bordering Vietnam.

The group was travelling to take part in the memorial celebration of a historic battle.

Apart from the deputy prime minister, 13 others were killed in the crash, including minister of public security Thongbanh Sengaphone, head of the Propaganda Training Committee Cheuang Sombounkhanh and mayor of Vientiane, Soukanh Mahalath.