18 People Die In Indonesia Plane Crash

By Douglas V. Gibbs

The wreckage of a Spanish-desinged aircraft CASA C-212 lies among the trees of a nearly impenetrable forest on a mountain in Bahorok, North Sumatra. Rescuers worked feverishly to reach the plane that crashed in the mountains of western Indonesia, hoping that there would still be survivors since the wreckage had been spotted intact with one of its doors opened. Alas, the bodies of all eighteen people aboard have been found. There were no survivors.

The location of the crash in the forest, combined with bad weather conditions that included high winds and fog, hampered rescue operations, and the crash site had to be approached by foot at its 5,000 foot elevation location on Friday evening.

Saturday morning thirteen rescuers were delivered by a hovering helicopter.

All eighteen bodies were found still in their seats with their seat belts on. The bodies included all 14 passengers and four crew members. Four of the dead were children.

It is still unclear what the cause of the crash was, but an investigation is underway by Indonesian authorities.

Yet another in a string of transportation accidents, the rash of crashes and sinkings are being blamed on overcrowding and poor safety standards.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

Rescuers find 18 bodies in Indonesia plane crash - MSNBC