Kenya crash: Bodies found

2003-07-22 15:33

Johannesburg - The bodies of the 14 people, including two South African pilots, who were killed in a plane crash in Kenya over the weekend have been discovered, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday.

The chartered aircraft carrying the two pilots and 12 American tourists to a game reserve in Kenya, crashed into Mount Kenya on Saturday, killing everybody on board.

Speaking to Sapa, Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said: "According to our High Commissioner in Nairobi, Commissioner Kingsley Makhubela, the bodies of the 14 have been discovered."

Mamoepa said the South African government expressed its condolences to members of the bereaved families, their friends and colleagues.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this time of bereavement."

Mamoepa said the two pilots are from Johannesburg.

A family friend who did not wish to be named said the families did not want their names to be revealed until their remains were back in South Africa.

The accident happened when a cloudy sky was beginning to clear just before sunset.

Rangers from the Mount Kenya National Park heard the crash. They found no survivors when they visited the site, but managed to retrieve the passports of some of the passengers.

Associated Press named the American tourists on Monday.

They were Dr George W Brumley, 68; his wife, Jean, 67; three of their children, George III, daughters Lois and Beth; George's wife Julia and two children, George IV and Jordan; Lois' husband Richard Morrell and their son, Alex, 11, and Beth's husband William Love and their daughter, Sarah, 12.

- SAPA