video transcript

A plane carrying Mexican-American singer Jenni Rivera went missing in northern Mexico early on Sunday (December 09) shortly after leaving the city of Monterrey. The Mexican transportation and communications ministry said Rivera's Learjet went off the radar about 62 miles (100 km) from Monterrey after taking off at 3:15 a.m. local time/0900 GMT. According to some local media reports, a helicopter search crew has located plane wreckage thought to belong to Rivera's Learjet. Rivera was heading for the city of Toluca in central Mexico after a concert in Monterrey on Saturday (December 08) night. The singer, two pilots and four other passengers are all missing, the ministry said. Rivera is a celebrity mentor in Mexico's popular La Voz ("The Voice") TV singing contest. Media giant Televisa canceled Sunday (December 09) night's broadcast of the show shortly after the singer's disappearance. Born in Long Beach, California, to Mexican immigrant parents, Rivera has sold some 15 million records in her career and won several awards and Grammy nominations, her website said. A mother of five renowned as an exponent of the Nortena and banda musical styles, Rivera turned 43 in July, according to Mexican media reports.