Mourning for plane crash victims
Published: 17 July, 2009, 01:44
Flowers lie at the crash site of the Caspian Airlines Tupolev-154 (AFP photo / Behrouz Mehri)
(14.2Mb) embed videoTAGS: Accident, Middle East
Iran and Armenia are mourning the victims of the Caspian Airlines flight which crashed in northern Iran on Wednesday, killing all 168 on board.
The doomed flight’s black boxes have been recovered and could hold clues to the cause of the tragedy that happened just 16 minutes into the flight to Armenia's capital, Yerevan.
Caspian Airlines are flying 54 relatives of the victims to Teheran to help identify the dead. Some of the relatives are still coming to terms with their loss.
“I still had hope yesterday that I would see my cousin again, but now all hope has disappeared,” Dina Sargisyan, a victim’s relative told RT.
24 year-old Sora Deravanesyan lost his father in the plane crash. His father was a prominent figure in Armenia – the director of the local branch of the Red Cross. Now, Sora has been left in charge of his entire family.
“I came directly to the airport because my sister was waiting for my father. Then I gathered my family, everybody had collapsed. I was holding myself together, but really, I’m heartbroken,” he confessed to RT.
This was the sentiment echoed by many of those relatives of the crash victims who were preparing to board a flight to Iran.
The national flags in the Armenian capital of Yerevan have been lowered in a sign of national mourning and respect.
Meanwhile, the official investigation of the crash is still underway. It remains unclear what caused the plane to nose dive in a field in northwest Iran. However, according to some eyewitnesses, one of the plane’s engines caught fire, but this hasn’t been confirmed.
Flight recorders from the aircraft have been recovered, but some are said to have been badly damaged and it is, therefore, still not know if they will shed any light on the tragedy.
16.07.2009, 22:29
18 comments
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I have been hearing about the plane crash as it was a tragedy so distant from home and sad to find out one of the lost lives in this tragedy was a beloved gas station owner from Tustin California. Today I found out that the gas station that I and many other Tustin residents have visited would feel the loss of the this far distant tragedy. The owner who was loved by almost anyone who stepped foot into his gas station/ marketplace was among the 168 lives lost in the plane crash. the owner not only made sure you felt welcomed but he also made sure that if he could he would know you by your first name. I live 1 block from the gas station for a year now and not one day did go by if i visited the gas station that he would not only always remember my name but also my regular shopping needs. Not only did his customers love him but his employees loved him even more. One in particular said that with this tragedy he lost a good friend not a boss. I find it only justice to acknowledge him here in California since so many will miss his smile each day and his presence at the gas station. A tragedy that we just see as a world event will and has affected many here in southern California, because we lost a beloved gas station owner who made us feel at home and welcomed at his establishment.
RIP Artur Grigoryan My cousin whom I wish I had the chance to meet again.