Honeymooners among Israelis missing in Thailand disaster
Two recently wed couples are among eight Israeli tourists missing in Phuket plane crash. Local police collecting DNA samples from family members to assist with identification process
Rotem and Adi said their vows only two short weeks ago. Itzhak and Hofit wed in April. Both couples were on their way to much-anticipated dream honeymoons in Thailand when tragedy struck.
One-Two Go flight OG-269 from Bangkok crashed off the resort island of Phuket on Sunday morning, killing 88 passengers injuring 42. Thai aviation authorities have attributed the crash to "extreme weather conditions".
Nine Israelis are still listed as missing and are presumed dead. Several long hours after the crash two missing Israeli passengers, Vladimir and Isabella Freylikhman, contacted their families and reported that they had survived the crash and are currently hospitalized in Thailand.
An Israel Police forensics team will leave for Thailand on Monday morning to help with the identification of the Israelis killed in the crash.
In Israel police representatives visited the families of the nine missing passengers and collected DNA samples to identify the remains.
The families of the four missing honeymooners – Adi Naim and wife Rotem Naouri, Hofit Eliya and husband Itzhak Biton – all reside in Kfar Yona, a small town in central Israel. The couples left for Bangkok last Wednesday and celebrated Rosh HaShana at the local Habad center.
Just married – Rotem and Adi holding up palms marked with traditional wedding Henna
Adi Naim's mother and sister left for Thailand on Sunday evening along with an Israeli team of forensic specialists who will aid Thai authorities in the identification process.
Also remaining missing Israeli passengers are Tal Feldman; Hila Gershoni, Lily Alon, Rachel Tofan and Michael Falcone.
The Foreign Ministry's situation room told Ynet that they were keeping in touch with the missing Israelis' families and that every effort was being made to get as much information as possible from the Thai authorities.
Israeli consul in Thailand, Hanoch Amedi, and the Israel Police attaché in Thailand left for Phuket on an internal military flight, as soon as news of Israelis being among the flight's passengers was confirmed.
Magen David Adom Emergency Services also dispatched a team, consisting of a physician and two paramedics, to the crash site. Dr Daphna Givati of MDA told Ynet that "there is a lot of uncertainty about the number of injuries and fatalities, but we'll do everything we can to help.
"Those injured have already been triaged and have received initial medical care," she added. "We're going to see if we can bring any of the wounded back home."
Aviram Zino, Ra'anan Ben-Zur, Eli Senyor and Liron Milstein contributed to this report
