Peru ? A government flight that linked Peru’s isolated jungle communities crashed in a storm, officials said, and at least eight survivors among the 20 people on board were rescued Friday after helicopters spotted a fire some had set.

The Twin Otter plane was declared missing Thursday evening after leaving Orellana, some 360 miles northeast of Lima, the Defense Ministry said. Regional officials said a three-man air force crew and 17 civilian passengers were on board.

Defense Minister Allan Wagner said a police helicopter rescued one survivor and a marine patrol that reached the crash site by land found seven others. He said the plane was found in a low, jungle-covered mountain range some 12 miles from Orellana.

The plane was part of the air force’s civic action flights that connect small communities in the jungle not served by commercial airliners.