Chile: Four bodies recovered arrive in Santiago for identification

September 3, 2011

Four bodies recovered from plane fell on the Chilean island of Juan Fernandez were taken to Santiago de Chile and  to their identification in an atmosphere of commotion and a crowd gathered in front of National Television of Chile, where he was news crew traveling in the aircraft. ”This accident touches the heart and soul of the Chileans,” Piñera

The bodies, two men and two women, arrived at 19.50 to the airbase Forest of the Chilean Air Force and from there , they were moved to the Institute of Forensic Medicine, where they were identified through their fingerprints.

The Chilean authorities, once informed of the identities of their families awaiting tonight at the Medical Legal Institute, were brought to a chapel for them to be vigilant of the Chileans, “Pinera said.

The crash of the Chilean Air Force carrying 21 passengers, occurred yesterday afternoon when the aircraft could not land on the island of Juan Fernandez, a distance of 670 kilometers of the continent, due to strong winds.

The machine took two laps around the airport at 17.48 until all contact was lost. This morning the authorities of the island and fishing boats found four bodies, wreckage and plenty of luggage in the sea.

The president of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, confirmed that the CASA 212 aircraft of the Chilean Air Force wrecked yesterday, “crashed into the sea,” and said that while “never lose faith, we do not create false expectations,” the outcome end the accident.

“We know that this aircraft has fixed landing gear and so the landing is dangerous,” Piñera said, told Channel 7 in Chile.

Rescue efforts, involving six aircraft and two frigates, are led by Defense Minister Andres Allamand, and the head of the Air Force, who traveled to the area.

Fishermen and island groups are also involved in search efforts.

The accident has caused a stir in Chile because among the missing passengers is a news team of five professionals from the National Television of Chile (TVN), including Camiroaga, one of the most credible and beloved faces on local television.