The United Nations says that 11 military personnel working on a peacekeeping mission in Haiti were killed when their plane crashed in rugged terrain Friday.
According to U.N. spokeswoman Michele Montas, the crash occurred near the border of the Dominican Republic in the country's east.
"The aircraft was on a regular reconnaissance flight," said the spokeswoman in a statement issued from U.N. headquarters in New York.
Since the crash area is mountainous, no vehicles could be brought into the area and rescue teams had to search for survivors by foot. However, none were found.
The U.N. said it would bring all of the bodies back to the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince.
Speaking through Montas' statement, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that he "extends his heartfelt condolences to the family members, friends and colleagues of these brave peacekeepers who lost their lives in the service of peace."
According to Haitian police officer David Charles, crews from his convoy hiked up a mountain near to the crash site but still couldn't get to the wreckage because it was on the other side of a ridge that was separated by a river.
However, he said that the wrecked plane's remains could be seen from their vantage point.
According to the U.N., the deceased are members of the Uruguayan and Jordanian contingent in the country.
The U.N. did not immediately say what reconnaissance the plane was undertaking.
With files from The Associated Press
