4th body pulled from chopper

Poor weather hampers clean-up effort

KHON KAEN: The fourth victim of Wednesday’s helicopter crash was found in the blackened wreckage overnight and forensic specialists were trying to fit names to the crushed and burned bodies yesterday.

Persistent rain at the scene in Chonnabot district has hampered the efforts of aviation experts trying to determine the cause of the crash. As of mid-afternoon they had not found the flight recorder.

Rescuers retrieved the badly crushed body of the last victim, who was burned beyond recognition, from the wreckage, on Wednesday night, bringing the total number of the crash victims to four.

Police collected other evidence at the crash site, including valuables that belonged to the victims, the shirts of TV crew who had been on board and other electronic equipment at the crash site.

The helicopter, AS355NP, crashed onto a paddy field and burst into flames in tambon Wang Saeng, Chonnabot district, on Wednesday morning. There were four people listed on the flight manifest. Initially, only three bodies were found at the scene, resulting in some confusion until the fourth was retrieved.

The four names on the list were: Two Channel 7 photographers, Samnao Noisakul and Ronnakit Phetnin; pilot Seksan Wanna; and Pol Col Sinsamut Sinphettha, the assistant pilot. The two pilots worked for Heliluck Aviation Co, which provides helicopter services.

Khon Kaen governor Somsak Jangtrakul said yesterday the four bodies were taken to Srinagarin Hospital’s forensic institute to have their identities verified. Relatives of the dead had already arrived in Khon Kaen, he told a media briefing at the local airport.

“The probe into the crash is under way. The bodies were sent from Chonnabot Hospital to Srinagarin Hospital for identification and DNA testing,’’ said Mr Somsak.

Dr Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, dean of Khon Kaen University’s faculty of medicine, confirmed the bodies had arrived at Srinagarin Hospital late on Wednesday night.

The scattered remains had been collected by matching bits of clothing and identity cards.

They were wrapped in four bags by rescue workers and Chonnabot Hospital staff.

“Although relatives confirmed the bodies were those of their loved ones, the medical team cannot let them take the remains for funeral rites until the process of verifying their identities has been completed,” Dr Charnchai said.

“The results are needed for legal proceedings, particularly for compensation payments by insurance firms to the victims’ families. DNA results are needed to avoid legal problems in the future,’’ he added.

The process will likely take 2-4 weeks, he added. A team of investigators working at the crash site yesterday was hindered by persistent rain and strong winds as they combed the wreckage.

The nose of the ill-fated helicopter was buried in a crater it had created about 1.5 metres deep. The crater had filled with rainwater overnight and had to be pumped dry, Khon Kaen airport director Atthaya Lapmark said after returning from the site.

As of last evening the flight recorder (black box) had not been located, he said. The work was proceeding slowly because of the poor weather conditions and muddy ground. With investigators still unsure what they might find, the area has been cordoned off to the public.