Rescue Helo Locates Site, No Survivors Found

The wreckage of a PMT Air An-24 charter carrying 22 people that disappeared Monday in a mountainous jungle region has been located.

According to Information Minister Khieu Kanharith, the chief government spokesperson, a rescue helicopter located the site Wednesday northeast of Bokor Mountain in Kampot province. There were no survivors.

"All have died. It is confirmed," said Kanharith.

As ANN reported, conservation crews working on a nearby mountain reported seeing a plane crash in a thick forest Monday. According to Him Sarun, Cabinet Chief for the Secretariat of Civil Aviation, rescue personnel were hampered in their search attempts due to thick mud from recent heavy rains, rough terrain and the remoteness of the site.

"If we located the plane three or four hours after the crash, there might have been some hope of survivors who could have been taken to the hospital," Sarun said.

Kanharith said the coordinates were currently being studied to pinpoint the location for ground recovery teams.

"The immediate step to be taken is to clear some forest for access," said Provincial Deputy Governor Khoy Khun Huor. "Helicopters now cannot land close to it."

A Siem Reap official told reporters thirteen South Koreans, three Czechs and a crew of five Cambodians and a Russian co-pilot. The plane lost contact five minutes before it was due to land.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said the aircraft had been flying in a heavy rainstorm and there was a "high probability it had crashed into a mountain as it was descending to land" according to the Associated Press.

Sar Sareth, Director of PMT Air told reporters the aircraft was in "good condition" prior to takeoff Monday.

"It was always in compliance with flight technical and safety procedures. But we cannot say anything yet (about the cause) because information is on the flight recorder," he said.

FMI: www.pmtair.com, www.cambodia.gov.kh