MEXICO CITY, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Seven people were killed in an air crash in the southern Venezuelan state of Amazonas on Tuesday, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said Wednesday in a statement on social media.

The aircraft, which belonged to the country's military aviation force, was on a mission to transport indigenous people.

There were ten people on board, including three crew members. The co-pilot and six passengers died in the crash, according to the statement.

The repatriation of the bodies would be completed as soon as possible, and the cause of the accident still needs further investigation, said the minister. ■