The Catholic Bishop of Bereina in the Central Province, Bishop RochusTatamai, has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the victims of the Hevilift Twin Otter air crash which occurred on Saturday 20 September 2014.
The aircraft had been chartered by the‘Our Lady of Fatima’parish in Woitape to bring supplies, and was en route to Port Moresby after having completed the charted flight, when it met its fate.
Passengers on board were locals from Goilala, travelling to Port Moresby on personal business.
“Although all the technical aspects of the incident pertain to the air company and the authorities, it was our parish of Our Lady of Fatima in Woitape that chartered the flight to bring in much needed supplies; and those who died or were injured on the way back to Port Moresby were people from our Goilala villages.”
“The seven passengers on board were traveling to Port Moresby for their own purposes,they were not in a Church sponsored activity”, said Bishop Rochus Tatamai.
A catholic priest ordained in 2010, 36-year-old Father John Paul Aihi was also a passenger on board the flight who managed to escape with minor injuries.
“I was at the back of the 12-seat aircraft”, he said in a phone call with a Catholic reporter this morning.
“As soon as we came out of the clouds, I saw the trees coming towards us. I spontaneously thought the pilot would immediately lift the plane; instead after a very few seconds we crashed”, said Father John.
It was also confirmed by Bishop Rochus that the passenger who perished at the crash site was Joseph Michael from Ononghe village.
The other passenger who died a day later in hospital from injuries sustained from the crash, was Pio Mark from Kosipe village.
Only one passenger remains in the hospital, whilst all others have been discharged.
The death toll of the ill fated Hevilift Twin Otter crash now stands at four: the Australian pilot and three PNG nationals, including the 25-year-old co-pilot Kristi Baru of Eastern Highlands and Manus.
Hevilift released a statement that said it would be "conducting a thorough investigation" and was "cooperating with all relevant authorities to determine the cause".
The Twin Otter aircraft registered P2-KSF and operated by HeviLift impacted terrain near the top of Mt. Lawes, 12 kilometres east north east of Jacksons Airport at approximately 9:35am.
The aircraft had been chartered by the‘Our Lady of Fatima’parish in Woitape to bring supplies, and was en route to Port Moresby after having completed the charted flight, when it met its fate.
Passengers on board were locals from Goilala, travelling to Port Moresby on personal business.
“Although all the technical aspects of the incident pertain to the air company and the authorities, it was our parish of Our Lady of Fatima in Woitape that chartered the flight to bring in much needed supplies; and those who died or were injured on the way back to Port Moresby were people from our Goilala villages.”
“The seven passengers on board were traveling to Port Moresby for their own purposes,they were not in a Church sponsored activity”, said Bishop Rochus Tatamai.
A catholic priest ordained in 2010, 36-year-old Father John Paul Aihi was also a passenger on board the flight who managed to escape with minor injuries.
“I was at the back of the 12-seat aircraft”, he said in a phone call with a Catholic reporter this morning.
“As soon as we came out of the clouds, I saw the trees coming towards us. I spontaneously thought the pilot would immediately lift the plane; instead after a very few seconds we crashed”, said Father John.
It was also confirmed by Bishop Rochus that the passenger who perished at the crash site was Joseph Michael from Ononghe village.
The other passenger who died a day later in hospital from injuries sustained from the crash, was Pio Mark from Kosipe village.
Only one passenger remains in the hospital, whilst all others have been discharged.
The death toll of the ill fated Hevilift Twin Otter crash now stands at four: the Australian pilot and three PNG nationals, including the 25-year-old co-pilot Kristi Baru of Eastern Highlands and Manus.
Hevilift released a statement that said it would be "conducting a thorough investigation" and was "cooperating with all relevant authorities to determine the cause".
The Twin Otter aircraft registered P2-KSF and operated by HeviLift impacted terrain near the top of Mt. Lawes, 12 kilometres east north east of Jacksons Airport at approximately 9:35am.
The aircraft was conducting a charter flight from Woitape to Port Moresby. Of the nine persons on board, four including the two pilots, did not survive the impact.
The PNG Accident Investigation Commission dispatched investigators by helicopter to the accident site. A full investigation into the factors underlying the accident will be conducted by the PNG AIC, and a Preliminary Report will be published within 30 days.
The PNG Accident Investigation Commission dispatched investigators by helicopter to the accident site. A full investigation into the factors underlying the accident will be conducted by the PNG AIC, and a Preliminary Report will be published within 30 days.
- Source: http://www.emtv.com.pg
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