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Photo: AP
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Photo: Reuters

Missing Israelis' relatives land in Phuket

Families of three of the eight Israeli passengers missing since Thailand plane crash arrive in country. According to reports Israeli IDs found on two of the bodies recovered from the wreckage. Airline official says wind shear may caused crash

The families of three of the Israeli passengers who were on the Thai plane that crashed Sunday arrived at the island of Phuket Monday to await the results of the identification efforts by local authorities, with the aid of Israeli teams.

 

Another relative was making his way to Bangkok and is expected to arrive there later in the day.

 

Eight Israeli passengers are still missing since the crash and presumed dead.

 

The Israeli embassy has set up a situation room in Phuket to serve the families, as well as Zaka and Magen David Adom crews, along with Israel Police and Foreign Ministry representatives. Other diplomats from neighboring countries are also set to arrive at the place.

 

According to reports, Israeli IDs were found on two of the bodies recovered from the wreckage.

 

The Israeli passengers who were on the flight and are still missing have been identified as:

 

Adi Naim, 25, from Kfar Yona

Rotem Naori, 24, from Netanya

Zachi (Itzik) Biton, 26, from Kfar Yona

Hofit Eliya, from Kfar Yona

Lily Alon, 23, from Jerusalem

Rachel Tofan, 23, from Jerusalem

Hila Gershoni, 23, from Holon

Tal Feldman, from Rishon Lezion

 

Two Israelis, Vladimir and Isabella Freylikhman, survived the crash and are being treated for a number of injuries. They are scheduled to return to Israel on Tuesday.

 

Investigators searched Monday through the remains of the plane, while an airline official said wind shear may have doomed the flight.

 

The budget One-Two-Go Airlines flight was carrying 123 passengers and seven crew from Bangkok to Phuket on Sunday when it skidded off the runway while landing in driving wind and rain, catching fire and engulfing some passengers in flames.

 

According to a transcript of the conversation between the control tower and the plane, ground officials informed the Indonesian pilot, Arief Mulyadi, about wind shear at the airport but he decided to land anyway, the Air Transport Department's director-general, Chaisak Ungsuwan, said on The Nation TV channel.

 

"The last word the pilot said was 'landing,"' he said. Wind shear refers to sudden changes in the wind along a plane's flight path which can result in a disastrous loss of lift on the wings.

 

"We are still unable to say the cause of the accident," Transport Minister Theera Haocharoen said. "The officials have found the black boxes and will send them for analysis to the United States.

 

Hopefully, we will learn in a few weeks the cause of the accident." Others suggested it could take a year to determine the cause.

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.17.07, 18:22
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