Nepal update: bodies found near crashed Marine helicopter
May 15, 2015
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Nepalese rescuers have found the wreckage of the "Huey" military helicopter that went missing earlier this week during an aid mission. Three bodies were found at the crash site.
The helicopter was carrying 2 Nepalese army soldiers and 6 U.S. Marines when it disappeared outside the earthquake-ravaged town of Charikot. Originally, officials were hopeful that the craft had been forced to make an emergency landing in a low-lying area (which would have made the deployment of a rescue beacon or distress signal impossible); however, the discovery of the wreckage and remains has led officials to the conclusion that recovery crews shouldn't expect to find any survivors of the crash.
The AP reports:
"The wreckage of the helicopter was found in pieces, and there are no chances of any survivors," Nepal's defense secretary, Iswori Poudyal said. He did not give the nationalities of the three victims, only saying their remains were charred. ... Lt. Gen. John Wissler, commander of the Marine-led joint task force, told reporters in Kathmandu that his team could not immediately identify the cause of the crash or identify the bodies found.