Three plane crash victims identified<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Of the seven bodies that were badly mutilated in
\nthe crash of a Merpati Nusantara Airlines plane in the Molo
\nStrait, East Nusa Tenggara, three have been identified.<\/p>\n
Merpati spokesman Agus Soedjono said here yesterday that
\ncertain bodily remains belonged to co-pilot Lovi Ibrahim,
\nairborne mechanic Johnny Tjuikaang Saduk and passenger Mrs.
\nHalim.<\/p>\n
A search and rescue team worked through the night to locate
\nthe wreckage of the 16-seater turboprop Twin Otter that crashed
\ninto the 50 meter deep strait on its way from Bima to Ruteng with
\n14 people aboard on Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n
The bodies were found scattered on the beach of the western
\ntip of the Flores island, together with bits of the ill-fated
\nplane that had been in the Merpati fleet since 1974.<\/p>\n
Accounts in local and international press reports have
\nconflicted as to the number of victims and whether the wreckage
\nhas been located.<\/p>\n
A major Jakarta newspaper reported yesterday that the bodies
\nof the victims and the plane wreckage had been found in the
\nstrait between the Rinca and Flores island.<\/p>\n
But Agus said yesterday that up to yesterday evening, only
\nseven bodies had been recovered and the wreckage had yet to be
\nfound.<\/p>\n
The cause of the accident is also still a matter of
\nspeculation. Merpati president Ridwan Fatarudin said either bad
\nweather or an explosion due to mechanical failure may have caused
\nthe accident.<\/p>\n
The Armed Forces (ABRI) has reportedly sent in frogmen to the
\nstrait in the hopes of finding the plane wreckage and the rest of
\nthe victims.<\/p>\n
The massive search operations involve ABRI, the police,
\nresidents, a Nomad plane from the navy, one helicopter and two of
\nMerpati's light planes. (pan\/icn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/three-plane-crash-victims-identified-1447893297",
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