Exclusive Photos of Body Retrieval From Suriname Plane Crash

Smitju · #1 ● 05-29-2010, 11:19 AM

I got these from a friend of mine.

A domestic flight in Suriname took a devastating turn when a Russian-built Antonov AN-28 aircraft, operated by Blue Wings Airline, tragically crashed in the remote jungle near the French Guiana border. The incident resulted in the loss of at least eight lives, casting a somber shadow over the region.

The heartbreaking news was confirmed by Mohammed Sherief Saboerali, the deputy head of the Aviation Authority, who stated unequivocally, "All eight are dead." The crash occurred on a domestic flight that carried two pilots and six other Surinamese nationals, turning what should have been a routine journey into a harrowing ordeal.

The search and rescue efforts were arduous, with French assistance coming from a rescue team equipped with a helicopter. Lieutenant Colonel Jerry Slijngaard, the head of the National Coordinating Center for Disaster Management (NCCR), explained the challenging circumstances they faced. The French helicopters had to conduct vertical drops to reach the crash site, situated near Stoelmans Island. Regrettably, they reported no survivors and a grim outlook.

A joint rescue team, undeterred by the formidable obstacles of heavy rain, rugged terrain, and dense forest, embarked on a mission to locate the downed Antonov AN-28. The crash site was approximately 200 kilometers southeast of Paramaribo, making access challenging and treacherous.

However, as daylight waned and bad weather conditions persisted, the rescue mission was temporarily halted in the late afternoon. The determined search for any potential survivors and the wreckage will resume Monday morning.

The flight departed from the domestic airfield Godo Olo at 14:30 local time, bound for the domestic airport Zorg and Hoop in Paramaribo. Tragically, the plane crashed only ten minutes after takeoff, plunging into the dense jungle below.

Eyewitness accounts from villagers near the crash site painted a harrowing picture of the incident, with reports of the aircraft losing altitude, followed by an explosion and the sight of a fireball in the air.