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Family mourns as body of Hercules crash victim arrives
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Time of mourning -- Family members of Capt. Jhan Hotlan Saragih, an aviator killed in a Hercules aircraft crash in Wamena, Papua, last week, cry after the body of their loved one arrived at Soewondo Air Force Base in Medan, North Sumatra, on Monday. (JP/Apriadi Gunawan)
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amily members of Capt. Jhan Hotlan Saragih, an aviator killed in a Hercules aircraft crash in Wamena, Papua, last week, were wrapped in deep sadness after the body of their loved one arrived at Soewondo Air Force Base in Medan, North Sumatra, on Monday.
They could not hold back their tears after a coffin carrying Hotlan’s body was removed from a Boeing 737-400 aircraft belonging to the Indonesian Air Force, which landed at around 10 a.m. local time.
“Hotlan...,” one of the military personnel’s relatives cried, hysterically. Their sadness deepened when Hotlan’s wife, Hotriani Kristina Purba, and their two children disembarked from the aircraft. The relatives immediately ran toward and embraced Hotriani, who seemed very weak sitting on a wheel chair.
Soewondo Air Force Base commander Col. Arifien led a military ceremony to welcome the arrival of Hotlan’s body.
“We let his family members bring his body to his hometown as requested,” said Arifien.
Using an ambulance belonging to Efarina Etaham Hospital, Hotlan was taken to his hometown in Kampung Pagar Jandi, Mariah Buttu village, Silau Kahaean district, Simalungun regency.
“He will be buried tomorrow but we haven’t yet received any further information from his family members on whether they will bury him in a traditional or full military procession. We will be ready,” said Arifien.
To show respect to victims of the Hercules C-130 crash, the Soewondo Air Force Base is flying the Indonesian flag at half-mast. (ebf)
