A PAKSE-bound Lao Airlines flight crashed into the Mekong River yesterday afternoon in a tragic accident that is believed to have killed all 49 on board.
According to the aircraft maker in a press release, an ATR 72-600 flying from Vientiane was involved in an accident at around 16.00 (local time) near Pakse, Champasak province.
The ATR 72-600 is a twin turboprop engine aircraft with capacity for 68 to 74 passengers.
Although circumstances surrounding the incident have yet to be determined, Lao Airlines sources said that “the aircraft ran into extreme bad weather conditions” and that “there were no news of survivors at this time”.
A passenger manifest the state-owned airline faxed AP listed 44 people: 17 Lao, seven French, five Australians, five Thais, three South Koreans, two Vietnamese and one person each from Canada, China, Malaysia, Taiwan and the US.
The five crew members on board are also believed dead.
The airline has pledged to provide full assistance into the investigation, which will be led by Lao authorities.
“The concern and sympathy of ATR go to the families, friends and loved ones affected by the accident,” said a statement from ATR.
