THE remains of the 10 victims of the plane crash in Bandar Elmina could be released to their families by Monday, at the earliest, Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said.

He said the DNA test being carried out to identify the victims’ identities by the Chemistry Department would take time.

“We have to give the Chemistry Department a chance to do its part,” he was quoted as saying by The Star online during a briefing with the victims’ families at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah today.

He advised the next of kin to go home or to their respective accommodation instead of waiting at the hospital.

“Once the process has concluded, we will call,” he said.

Razarudin said matching of DNA with the remains retrieved from the crash site would take three to four hours per case.

The Beechcraft Model 390 aircraft was travelling from Langkawi International Airport to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport when it crashed.

The plane, operated by Jetvalet Sdn Bhd, departed Langkawi at 2.08pm. It made first contact with the Subang air traffic control tower at 2.47pm and landing clearance was given at 2.48pm.

At 2.51pm, the control tower observed smoke from the crash site, but the aircraft had not made a distress call.

All six passengers and two crew members on board the aircraft were killed. 

They were Pelangai assemblyman Johari Harun, Kharil Azwan Jamaludin, Shaharul Amir Omar, Mohamad Naim Fawwaz Mohamed Muaidi, Muhammad Taufiq Mohd Zaki and Idris Abdol Talib@Ramali.

The two crew members were Shahrul Kamal Roslan and Heikal Aras Abdul Azim. 

Two other people in separate vehicles on the road were also killed on impact.

Razarudin said the process of retrieving the remains of the victims at the crash site was completed and the roads in area have reopened since 3pm. – August 18, 2023.