SA relatives on way to Cameroon

2007-05-08 17:05

Johannesburg - Nineteen relatives of seven South Africans who were on board the Kenya Airways flight which crashed at the weekend are being flown to Cameroon, said the airline on Tuesday.

"Kenya Airways continues to facilitate travel for passengers' next-of-kin," said spokesperson Michael Okwiri from Nairobi, Kenya.

"Today (Tuesday), 11 next-of-kin will leave for Douala at 19:00. This is in addition to eight next-of-kin who left on Monday."

Kenya Airways flight KQ 507 crashed in a storm soon after take-off from Douala, Cameroon, on its way to Nairobi, just after midnight on Saturday night. The wreckage was found 36 hours later and all 114 on board were presumed dead.

Difficult circumstances

Earlier on Tuesday, airline spokesperson Glenn Lewington said there were seven South Africans on board. There were 19 people on the flight who were bound for Johannesburg.

"The recovery is still going on under difficult circumstances, but we have not found any survivors yet," said Okwiri.

"It is confirmed that the aircraft's flight recorder was recovered at the crash site and appears to be in good condition."

Okwiri said Kenya Airways CEO Titus Naikuni left on Tuesday morning for Douala and would visit the crash site.

- SAPA