flight rules because there are no radio aids nearby, nor does it have beaconing so after sunset or under conditions of poor visibility the airport is disabled and any pending flight is diverted to El Vigia at 1 hour by car. A famous event occurred in 1985 when a Douglas Dc-9-30 plane from the company Aeropostal, with the registration YV24C, landed in Merida with Pope John Paul II. After the crash of SBA Airlines flight 518, the only approach mode approved by the aviation authorities was the Chama River corridor. Accidents and incidents On 21 February 2008, Santa Bárbara Airlines Flight 518, an ATR 42-300 twin-turboprop en route to Caracas, crashed shortly after takeoff from Carnevalli, killing all 46 people on board. The cause of the accident was pilot error caused by disorientation and rushed procedures. See also Transport in Venezuela List of airports in Venezuela References External links OurAirports - Mérida SkyVector - Mérida OpenStreetMap - Mérida airlinecodes.co.uk entry airportlist.com entry Reuters article about Flight 518 accident Airports in Venezuela Airports established in 1956 Buildings and structures in Mérida (state) Buildings and structures in Mérida, Mérida