Missing aircraft (with Aussies) Yaounde - Mbalam
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Funeral
Could anyone from Steve's family that knows when the funeral will be, when the body is repatriated to the UK, please post details. I am a friend who would like to attend.
Join Date: Jun 2010
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Hi
I knew Steve. He was my first Chief Pilot and more importantly he was one of the few people on this planet that I could call my friend.
I will sadly miss his jokes (of which he knew millions), and his very sage advice that I accepted wholeheartly and that helped me no end.
We are having drinks for Steve tonite and one of his favorite Maun watering holes "The Bridge".
Is there a e-mail address that we can contact you at to send any photo's we have of his life????
I knew Steve. He was my first Chief Pilot and more importantly he was one of the few people on this planet that I could call my friend.
I will sadly miss his jokes (of which he knew millions), and his very sage advice that I accepted wholeheartly and that helped me no end.
We are having drinks for Steve tonite and one of his favorite Maun watering holes "The Bridge".
Is there a e-mail address that we can contact you at to send any photo's we have of his life????
Join Date: Jun 2010
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Dont fear death,fear a life not lived! Steve you showed us all how! Will miss you my friend and always have a look above me while flying because AWACS was always above the rest of us,ready with the camera! Sure there is a little guy up there that is happy to see you again! Would also like to know any info of the funeral???
Join Date: Jun 2010
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For Sticthedup
Hi
Let me know if you can send me an e-mail address as we are preparing a Condolance Book for the Steve from the Maun portion of his life. We would like to send it to the family at some point.
Thanks
Let me know if you can send me an e-mail address as we are preparing a Condolance Book for the Steve from the Maun portion of his life. We would like to send it to the family at some point.
Thanks
Join Date: Mar 2009
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Picturs of Steve
I was searching my hard drive for any useful pictures from Steve in Maun (or at the bridge) couldnt find any - very sorry to find out that i dont have any nice pictures ofhim. If the guys in Maun need any kind of contribution pls let me know i am happy to join! Can anyone upload some Pics on FB or pprune if that is ok with everyone?? Maybe from the god old Maun days? Thanks indeed.
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The latest news from the crash site is that the previously poor weather conditions have cleared somewhat, and further progress has been made. I gather that the elevation of the crash site is around the 900 to 1000 metre level, and regular clouds and rain have previously hampered movement, as the chopper pilots apparently couldn't even see where the crash site was, for lengthy periods, due to cloud... thus restricting access to the site by the recovery team. The crash site is apparently only about 100 metres below the top of a peak in the Avima Range.
As of last light local time today (Friday 25th), the site has been reached (on Thursday) by the earthmoving equipment, a pad cleared, and further work on dismantling the wreckage has been carried out. Some bodies have been retrieved from the wreckage (starting late Thursday), and some are still to be retrieved, as of today. The French military and their aircraft are still the main operators in the recovery operation.
The South African repatriation team (now identified as Rescue SA) appears to have been working on the Congolese Govt with success, and as of today, the Australian Federal Police have been invited by said Govt, to become involved in the overseeing of the repatriation of the bodies. The Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria has also arrived in Brazzaville, and has held a special cross-ministerial meeting with Congolese ministerial officials.
This is good news, as it means that a substantial degree of organisation will now be applied to the process, which will hopefully speed up repatriation of the bodies, and cut through any Congolese Govt holdups.
One would hazard an educated guess - as with any 3rd world Govt - that any potential holdup, would only involve who gets how much in bribes, to speed up the necessary "Govt processes"...
It has been reported that the CVR has been located and recovered, some distance from the main crash wreckage. Whether it yields any useful insight to the crash, only time will tell.
Rescue SA has taken in a team of 5 personnel, along with 250kg of rescue equipment, to retrieve the bodies. Amongst this team is an expert in mortuary science. The Rescue SA team left SA on Thursday and began work at the crash site today (Friday).
As of last light local time today (Friday 25th), the site has been reached (on Thursday) by the earthmoving equipment, a pad cleared, and further work on dismantling the wreckage has been carried out. Some bodies have been retrieved from the wreckage (starting late Thursday), and some are still to be retrieved, as of today. The French military and their aircraft are still the main operators in the recovery operation.
The South African repatriation team (now identified as Rescue SA) appears to have been working on the Congolese Govt with success, and as of today, the Australian Federal Police have been invited by said Govt, to become involved in the overseeing of the repatriation of the bodies. The Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria has also arrived in Brazzaville, and has held a special cross-ministerial meeting with Congolese ministerial officials.
This is good news, as it means that a substantial degree of organisation will now be applied to the process, which will hopefully speed up repatriation of the bodies, and cut through any Congolese Govt holdups.
One would hazard an educated guess - as with any 3rd world Govt - that any potential holdup, would only involve who gets how much in bribes, to speed up the necessary "Govt processes"...
It has been reported that the CVR has been located and recovered, some distance from the main crash wreckage. Whether it yields any useful insight to the crash, only time will tell.
Rescue SA has taken in a team of 5 personnel, along with 250kg of rescue equipment, to retrieve the bodies. Amongst this team is an expert in mortuary science. The Rescue SA team left SA on Thursday and began work at the crash site today (Friday).
Last edited by onetrack; 25th Jun 2010 at 15:15.
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For 'STITCHEDUP'
Dear Stitchedup,
thank you for your private message. My dearest condolences should you indeed be the niece. In which case, sorry for doubting it. I would love to get in touch with you. Send me your details and I will call you back.
Should you however be the same journalist trying to get more info- then sorry, my answer is still NO!
Passionforflying
thank you for your private message. My dearest condolences should you indeed be the niece. In which case, sorry for doubting it. I would love to get in touch with you. Send me your details and I will call you back.
Should you however be the same journalist trying to get more info- then sorry, my answer is still NO!
Passionforflying
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The news for today, Saturday 26th Jine, is that Rescue SA has done a brilliant job, and recovered all 11 bodies from the wreckage well within a 24 hr period.
The bodies were transported to Yangadou airstrip by French military chopper and then loaded onto a Congolese aircraft and delivered to Brazzaville, where they have now been placed in a secured location, ready for identification to be officially made, and death certificates issued.
Rescue SA planned on a possible 5 day project, but completed it within 24 hrs, and are now on their way back to SA, with their arrival in SA planned for Saturday night, local time.
The AFP have now apparently taken over the process of identification and the logistics of repatriating the bodies to the respective countries where their families are. It may be necessary that DNA sampling is required for identification.
As many will no doubt be aware, this was a high speed impact into big trees and terra firma, and the bodies are not necessarily intact or readily identifiable.
The AFP need to ensure there are no errors in ID, as has happened in recent times with a military body repatriation from Afghanistan.
The current Sundance Co., stand-in Managing Director, George Jones, has stated that the repatriation process will proceed as rapidly as possible, but cannot place any precise time frame, on when the bodies will leave the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The DRC Govt has stated that they will initiate an investigation into the crash, as it happened on Congolese territory. I would imagine they will need to call on some outside assistance in this matter. No time frame or parameters regarding the crash investigation have been outlined.
The bodies were transported to Yangadou airstrip by French military chopper and then loaded onto a Congolese aircraft and delivered to Brazzaville, where they have now been placed in a secured location, ready for identification to be officially made, and death certificates issued.
Rescue SA planned on a possible 5 day project, but completed it within 24 hrs, and are now on their way back to SA, with their arrival in SA planned for Saturday night, local time.
The AFP have now apparently taken over the process of identification and the logistics of repatriating the bodies to the respective countries where their families are. It may be necessary that DNA sampling is required for identification.
As many will no doubt be aware, this was a high speed impact into big trees and terra firma, and the bodies are not necessarily intact or readily identifiable.
The AFP need to ensure there are no errors in ID, as has happened in recent times with a military body repatriation from Afghanistan.
The current Sundance Co., stand-in Managing Director, George Jones, has stated that the repatriation process will proceed as rapidly as possible, but cannot place any precise time frame, on when the bodies will leave the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The DRC Govt has stated that they will initiate an investigation into the crash, as it happened on Congolese territory. I would imagine they will need to call on some outside assistance in this matter. No time frame or parameters regarding the crash investigation have been outlined.
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The "West Australian" newspaper has released a couple of pictures of the crash site, and it is reported that the US National Transportation Safety Board will join in with the crash investigation efforts, after a request from the Congolese government.
Currently the bodies are undergoing autopsy and identification, under a team of 7 Australian Federal Police, Congolese officials, and Australian High Commission officials. It is reported that the autopsies and identification processes will be completed by some time next week, whereupon the bodies will be repatriated.
Currently the bodies are undergoing autopsy and identification, under a team of 7 Australian Federal Police, Congolese officials, and Australian High Commission officials. It is reported that the autopsies and identification processes will be completed by some time next week, whereupon the bodies will be repatriated.
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hurtin
I lived with Steve here in Maun.(girlfriend).He was such a good hearted man.I remember he used to play the flight similator everyday before he went to bed,pause it and continue the following morning before he goes to work,that was his hobby and passion.I cant forget the day he told me we had to move to West Africa(2007),i was so terrified and refused.He kept insisting until last year when i scarefully allowed him to go and work there,he told me he would be happy and not in danger that side.As much as he loved flying,he used to tell me that he didnt want to die of an aircrash,im so devasted that what he wanted the least is what happened to him.
Its been a week now and i still cannot believe i will never hear from him again.We have been trying to look for his mother's (Claire)contacts and we still havent got them as the phone he bought me got stolen just the day before he passed away with all the contacts,how painful.You can sent them me on this [email protected]
Steve's niece,please pass my condolescence to your family and tell them Steve loved you so much,he used to tell me stories about you guys,(mother,his only sister and his 2 niece and their father.)
May God bless and comfort you.
Regards
Its been a week now and i still cannot believe i will never hear from him again.We have been trying to look for his mother's (Claire)contacts and we still havent got them as the phone he bought me got stolen just the day before he passed away with all the contacts,how painful.You can sent them me on this [email protected]
Steve's niece,please pass my condolescence to your family and tell them Steve loved you so much,he used to tell me stories about you guys,(mother,his only sister and his 2 niece and their father.)
May God bless and comfort you.
Regards
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STITCHEDUP- My appologies
Stitchedup,
my sincere appologies for doubting you being the real niece.... I guess I over reacted after being contacted by several journalists after this great loss.
Sorry for that.
Passionforflying
my sincere appologies for doubting you being the real niece.... I guess I over reacted after being contacted by several journalists after this great loss.
Sorry for that.
Passionforflying