Body of last Thai crash victim found

The body of Nonthaburi native Nipol Chaichana-kuldee, 27, was discovered by the search-and-rescue team and was expected to be brought back to Thailand today, according to team member Prasop Sarnsamak.

Nipol was among five Thais killed when the Lao Airlines ATR-72 plunged into the Mekong on its approach to Pakse Airport in Champasak. The accident killed all 49 people on board the plane.

The body of the fourth Thai victim to be found, Yanyong Apaanan, 29, a PTT engineer, was taken back to Thailand yesterday.

Local news agency Vientiane Times has reported that according to a senior government official, the main wreckage of the Lao Airlines plane has been recovered but the two “black box” flight recorders have yet to be located.

The fuselage was lifted from the river by floating crane, while divers discovered numerous other pieces of wreckage – but the black boxes were not among them, despite a signal being detected in the area.

The director general of Laos’ Department of Civil Aviation, Yakua Lopangkao told the Vientiane Times that the recovery divers were expected to begin searching for the boxes yesterday.

“If the black box recorders were still attached to the tail then they will be easier to find – but if they broke off [in the crash] then the task will be more difficult,” he said, adding that visibility in the muddy river was so poor that divers could only feel for the devices using their hands and feet.