Remains from crashed Asiana plane recovered

The remains of two pilots of an Asiana Airlines cargo plane that crashed into waters off Jeju Island were recovered yesterday, nearly three months after the accident took place, maritime police said.

The pilots - Choi Sang-gi, the 52-year-old captain, and Lee Jeong-wung, his 43-year-old deputy - had been unaccounted for after the Boeing 747 cargo plane crashed into waters about 107 kilometers (67 miles) west of the island in an accident presumably caused by an in-flight fire on July 28.

The plane’s black box has yet to be found.

The bodies, found inside the cockpit of the plane, which was recovered the previous day by a search team, were taken to Jeju National University Hospital, police said.

“We understand the families of the pilots flew to Jeju Island upon hearing the news from a government probe committee on aviation and train accidents,” an Asiana official said. “We’ll be able to hold funerals after going through DNA tests and all other necessary procedures ruled by the committee.”

Yonhap