19 of 152 French tourists killed in Martinique-bound plane crash identified

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP): Authorities have identified the bodies of 19 of the 152 French tourists who were killed last week when a Colombian plane bound for Martinique crashed in Venezuela, police said Monday.

The bodies were identified using forensic science and belongings found in the wreckage of Tuesday's West Caribbean Airways accident in northwestern Venezuela, said Marcos Chavez, director of forensic police.

Police will release the identified victims' names later, Chavez told AFP.

Identifying the victims has been difficult because dental records and fingerprints were not immediately available, and victims' relatives were not available to give DNA evidence, he said.

The eight Colombian crew members who died in the crash were identified last week.

The twin-engine McDonnell Douglas MD-82 aircraft was traveling from Panama to the French Caribbean island of Martinique when it crashed in Venezuela after the pilot reported trouble with both engines.

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