Body of Nepalese co-pilot recovered, ending search and retrieval operations

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

Sunken plane off Masbate lifted to surface, Nepalese pilot not inside wreckage

MANILA, Philippines - The wingless Seneca Piper plane that sank 180 feet to the ocean floor off Masbate City had been lifted to the surface Wednesday night by a team of Navy men and other professional divers, who earlier retrieved the bodies of Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo and veteran pilot Jessup Bahinting.

But the remains of Bahinting's Nepalese co-pilot, Kshitiz Chand, 22, was not inside the wreckage, according to Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas II. [See related story: Young pilot with Robredo on ill-fated plane wanted to serve Nepal by joining its army]

The plane, with body number RP-34431, crashed off the city's Barangay Ibingay 800 meters from the shore on Saturday, August 18, due to engine problem.

Bahinting's remains were recovered earlier in the day, while Robredo's body was retrieved on Tuesday. Robredo's aide, Police Senior Supt. June Paolo Abrazado survived the crash.

article source: interaksyon.com