Costa Rica authorities find wreckage believed to be from plane carrying German entrepreneur

Rainer Schaller
Rainer Schaller

SAN JOSE,  (Reuters) – German entrepreneur Rainer Schaller, known for his line of fitness studios, was among the passengers on a plane believed to have crashed in Costa Rica, authorities from the Central American country said today.

Costa Rican authorities said they found wreckage earlier today about 17 miles (28 km) from Limon airport believed to be from a private plane carrying Schaller, the founder of Germany’s McFit gym chain, and some members of his family.

Schaller, 53, was traveling with other Germans including a 44-year-old woman, a 40-year-old man and two minors. The pilot, 66, was a Swiss citizen, according to Costa Rica’s security ministry.

Costa Rican authorities received an alert on Friday night about the missing plane, which was en route from Mexico to Limon, Security Minister Jorge Torres said earlier.

The aircraft had lost communication with the control tower near Barra de Parismina, a few minutes from Limon, according to Torres.