MANILA, Philippines - The body of Nepalese co-pilot Kshitz Chand was recovered early Thursday, according Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.
Gazmin, in a press conference in Masbate City early Thursday, said the body was positively identified by the young pilot's father and brother.
"The body was found near the site where the fuselage was recovered yesterday," Gazmin said. "The body was positively identified by the father and his brother to be that of the co-pilot Mr. Kshitz Chand."
Gazmin said that with the recovery of Chand's body, authorities are now ending search and retrieval operations.
In the official Facebook page of President Benigno Aquino III, it said that Chand was brought to shore by 10 Army soldiers and was transported via a 6x6 truck to La Funeraria Eternas.
Chand was the last body recovered from the ill-fated Piper Seneca plane that crashed off Masbate Saturday afternoon. The plane carried DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, who perished in the crash.
"We condole with the familes of Sec. Robredo, Mr. Jessup Bahinting, Mr. Kshitz Chand," Gazmin said.
With this, he said the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) will take over for the investigation of the plane crash.
source: interaksyon.com
