Plane crash: DNA tests of 9 victims completed

 

The DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) matching process to determine the identities of nine more victims who died in the plane crash near Bandar Elmina in Shah Alam, was completed last night.

According to Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan, the next-of-kin would need to lodge a police report as part of the process to release the remains.

“We have completed all the DNA tests to confirm the identities of the victims and we will hand over all the bodies to the next-of-kin at 9am tomorrow,” he said.

He was speaking during a press conference at the Forensics Department of Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang, Selangor, last night.

Hussein said the remains will be taken to a nearby mosque by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais).

“After that, arrangements will be made to proceed to the cemeteries that have been agreed upon by the families concerned,” he said.

At 4pm yesterday, Muhamad Hafiz Muhamad Saleh, a p-hailing rider who died in the crash, was buried at the Masjid Al-Huda Muslim Cemetery in Kampung Jerung, Sungai Petani, Kedah.

On Thursday, a Beechcraft Model 390 (Premier 1) plane crashed along the Guthrie Highway near Bandar Elmina, resulting in the death of 10 individuals including Pahang state executive councillor for Local Government, Housing, Environment, and Green Technology Johari Harun.

The eight who perished comprised six passengers and two crew members of the light aircraft, while the other two were civilians - a motorcyclist and car driver who happened to be passing by at the time of the incident.

The ill-fated plane was on its way from Langkawi to Subang, and had been cleared to land at 2.48pm before it crashed.

- Bernama