Rescue team recovers remains from Papuan plane crash site
Markus Makur, The Jakarta Post, Timika | Mon, 04/20/2009 7:55 AM
Helping out: Residents of Ilaga, Puncak Jaya regency, help a search and rescue team carry bodies and remains of the recent Papuan air crash, to be identified by a medical and police team, at Ilaga air strip on Monday morning. All 10 victims onboard a Mimika Air plane that crashed on Friday in bad weather were confirmed dead. SAR Timika/JP/Markus Makur
A joint search and rescue team has recovered and evacuated (to Timika) all bodies and remains of Papuan plane crash victims from its crash site at the foot of Mount Gergaji in Puncak Jaya regency.
The 10 bodies had been transported using an Airfast Indonesia helicopter, local transportation official John Rettob said on Monday morning at Timika’s Moses Kilangin airport.
The team, comprising Timika search and rescue members assisted by PT Freeport Indonesia’s Emergency Response team, had flown to the crash site on Sunday morning, but could not recover the bodies on the day because of bad weather.
The Pilatus Porter-type aircraft, belonging to the Mimika administration-owned Mimika Air, crashed in bad weather Friday on its way from Ilaga to Mulia in Puncak Jaya regency.
The plane, with 10 passengers including two crew members, was carrying ballots and results of the recent legislative elections. None of the passengers survived the crash.
