Former Nicaraguan Presidential Minister Missing After Plane Crash

It is feared that a former Minister in the Presidency of Violetta Chamorro is dead. Jose Antonio Lacayo disappeared after a helicopter accident on Tuesday.

Lacayo was traveling with Juan Francisco Lemus, a Nicaraguan who lived in the United States, a Coca-Cola Sales Director, James Scott Horrisberger and Phil Wendell Tope, along with the pilot. Tope's body was found on Tuesday by a rescue crew. Tope had been since the 1990's Head of Operations for Tampa Juice Service.

A Search for the rest of the occupants of the helicopter was continued through yesterday then it was halted due to lack of visibility.

Lacayo was traveling in the southern city of San Carlos to the capital Managua. According to the Nicaraguan Civilian Air, the plane fell near a bridge called Santa Fe over a river called San Juan. It is unknown what led to the accident.

Lacayo was Chamorro's right hand man during her presidency and was in as a minister of government between 1990 and 1997. Since leaving public life, Lacayo has dedicated himself to working in the private sector, first as Executive Director of TicoFruit and Centro Empresarial Pellas.

Daniel Ortega's government expressed sadness at his disappearance and hoped for news from authorities. They added to his "contribution to the culture of understanding and peace in Nicaragua."