Elmina plane crash: Families gathering at HTAR to provide DNA samples

KLANG: Around 50 families and relatives of the Elmina plane crash victims have been gathering at Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR) here since Friday (Aug 18) morning to provide their DNA samples for identification.

They were seen at a tent at the forensics department while waiting for their turns to provide the DNA samples.

Pahang assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin and Peramu Jaya state assemblyman Datuk Mohamad Nizar Najib were there to provide moral support to the families.

Certain parts of the forensic area of HTAR were also cordoned off by the police.

It is learnt that DNA samplings began yesterday (Aug 17) while the post-mortem will be conducted today.

Yesterday, HTAR Klang director Dr Zulkarnain Mohd Rawi said 10 forensic personnel would be involved in performing autopsies on the victims of the air crash.

Ten people were reported killed after the Beechcraft Model 390 (Premier 1) plane crashed on the Guthrie Highway at about 2.50pm.

Two flight crew members and six passengers - including Pahang local government, housing, environment and green technology committee chairman Datuk Seri Johari Harun - were killed in the tragedy.

A motorist and a motorcyclist, who were passing by the area, were also killed on impact.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain had said only one body was discovered intact and was identified as the motorcyclist.

He said the other five bodies recovered were in various conditions (missing some body parts).

"Our priority now is to recover the remains of the victims and clear the crash site.

"The black box will be recovered by the Air Accident Investigation Bureau," he said, adding that they were working around the clock to recover the remains of the victims and the aircraft debris.