Kiunga crash

Bodies of Kiunga crash victims repatriated

A convoy of vehicles painted in mud drove through Kiunga town yesterday carrying the bodies of the victims to the airport, where they were airlifted in helicopters back to their resting place.

Among those who were repatriated were three children who died in the crash.

A total of 11 people, including the dual Australian-French national pilot, lost their lives on the afternoon of April 13.

PNG Loop’s 5@5

11 planes to fly late Agiru home

Eleven planes have been chartered to fly the late Hela Governor Anderson Agiru back home to Southern Highlands and Hela from Port Moresby.

http://www.looppng.com/content/11-planes-fly-late-agiru-home

 

Taris do their crying in the rain for late Agiru

Heavy rain pelted Tari town as the body of late Governor Anderson Pawa Agiru touched down.

Repatriation talks underway for pilot’s body

PNG Accident Investigation Commission CEO David Inau said the pilot had been with Sunbird Aviation for a year now and is a very experienced pilot.  “He has flown a number of this type of aircraft.”

“We have spoken to the parents and we have also organised the pathologist. The processes of getting legal clearance for a post mortem are being worked on. Once that is completed, we will be conducting a post mortem as part of the investigation.”

Three survived initial impact: PNG AIC

Inau said the twin-engine Britten Norman Islander aircraft that was operated by Vanimo-based Sunbird Aviation, was only 33 seconds away from landing or 1200 metres short from the runway.

“On the final approach, the aircraft was seen to have pitched up and then entered into a spiral descent and ended up crashing.”

He said the process of investigation has started, which will be long and tedious due to the fact that smaller aircraft of this category by law are not fitted with a cockpit voice recording device.