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Pilot of crashed plane promised to go home to East Nusa Tenggara for Christmas
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A policeman takes the blood sample from Alexander Manao in South Center Timor regency on Dec. 5. Alexander is the father of Adj. Comr. Tonce Manua, the pilot of an M-28 Skytruck, the National Police plane that crashed in Riau Islands waters on Dec. 4. (JP/Djemi Amnifu)
T
he family members of Adj. Comr. Tonce Manao, the pilot of a National Police aircraft that crashed in the Riau Islands, underwent DNA tests by the East Nusa Tenggara Police in Soe, South Center Timor regency, on Monday.
Tonce’s father Alexander Manao and his sister, Melviana Manao had samples of their DNA taken to confirm the identity of Tonce, whose plane exploded in the sea in the Riau Islands regency on Sunday.
The M-28 Skytruck airplane, which was carrying 13 passengers, was on its way from Pangkal Pinang, Bangka Island, to Batam, Riau Islands, when it crashed.
Anom Dwiworo, the police doctor, told the family that the DNA tests were necessary to confirm the identity of Tonce Manao.
Tonce’s father Alexander said the last time Tonce went to Soe was on Nov. 21, when the was participating in a reunion of local people who had found success outside the South Center Timor regency.
“He was here for three days. He came on Friday and left Sunday,” he said. “He promised to come home for Christmas. His friends at the reunion could not believe he was one of the victims of the plane crash,” the father said.
Alexander said he and other family members would wait for any news regarding Tonce, who was survived by his wife Brig. Chery Naftalia, and two children, Angel, 6, and Iskobele, 2. (evi)
