DA MP's brother on crashed plane
2010-05-12 18:10
Johannesburg - Four people flying from South Africa have so far been identified as being among the victims of an Afriqiyah Airways Airbus crash in Libya on Wednesday morning.
They are the brother of a DA MP, a current and a former employee of SA's Global Aviation and his wife.
DA spokesperson Ross van der Linde said Anchen Dreyer's brother had died when the plane crashed as it was about to land in Tripoli early in the morning, after flying from Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport.
Global Aviation chief executive officer Johan Kuit said the company was shocked to learn of the deaths of cabin crew trainer Cathy Tillett and Norbert Taferner, retired manager for their Tripoli office, and his wife Paula.
It was not clear whether Taferner was a South African citizen.
"Norbert used to be with the Civil Aviation Authority and started with Global in 2005. Both are born and bred industry people, with jet A1 fuel flowing in their veins instead of blood," a sombre Kuit said.
Tillett, who had been on her way to Tripoli to do cabin crew training for another airline there, was well-known and liked in the industry, he said.
The Taferners were on a personal visit to the North African capital.
Sole survivor?
South African authorities were still trying to verify the passenger list before providing further information on how many South Africans were aboard. Agencies reported that 61 Dutch people were killed in the crash.
A small boy is believed to be only survivor, although a statement issued by the airline earlier said "casualties" had been taken to hospitals.
International relations department spokesperson Nomfanelo Kota said they were struggling to get the passenger list as it was with Libyan authorities, and until they had done their own checks, they didn't want to rush into saying how many South Africans were on board.
Kota also told News24 that it was unlikely that the department would get the complete list on Wednesday of South Africans on the flight.
Ninety-three passengers and 11 crew were on board the plane.
"Our ambassador in Tripoli did confirm that there were South Africans," Kota said.
Officials helping public
Members of the public were also making enquiries and once these verifications had been concluded, the department would be able to provide further information.
The department had established an emergency operations room, which, said Kota, had been busy since news of the crash broke.
The number to use is 012-351-1000 and callers must request the consular section.
Kota said the emergency operations room is in 24-hour operation.
South Africa's ambassador to Libya had also set up an operations centre with other SA Development Community ambassadors, to act as a reception centre for South Africans who wanted to travel to the North African country to identify the bodies of their loved ones.
Zuma sends condolences
The airline said it would transport relatives to Tripoli without charge, where they would also be given free accommodation.
Libyan immigration authorities would grant a visa on arrival, and there would be no need for translation to Arabic of their passports.
The Libyan airline number to call is +218-91-371-9588. The airline asked journalists not to use that number so it could stay open for relatives.
The Airports Company of SA said it had set up a crisis centre for the airline at OR Tambo International Airport.
In addition to the international relations number, relatives could also call Tripoli +219-213-341-181 or London +44-203-355-2737.
The airport's helpdesk would direct relatives to the private facility.
Meanwhile, President Jacob Zuma and Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele were among the first to send condolences to the families of those involved in the crash.
"Our thoughts are with those who lost loved ones in this tragedy," said Zuma.
Ndebele said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this time of bereavement."
- SAPA
