VIENTIANE -- 11 bodies have been recovered from the crash site of Lao Airlines flight QV301, Director General of Civil Aviation Yakao Lopangkao told Xinhua on Thursday.
The number rose after two bodies were discovered downstream from the crash site, though the identities or nationalities of the individuals can not be confirmed at this point.
Reporters from Xinhua learned that the Lao Airlines flight hit the riverbank of Done Kho Island before coming to rest in the Mekong in Wednesday's crash, which appears to have no survivors.
According to Lopangkao, the fuselage of the plane has yet to be found. The search is being centered on the riverside impact point where a barge is moored with an onboard crane at the ready.
"The Mekong river flow is very strong so maybe it has taken parts of the aircraft away from the site," Lopangkao told Xinhua. "At the moment it's rainy season so the water level is also very high."
Lao and Thai rescue teams have been cooperating in operations to try and locate the main body of the aircraft but so far have been unsuccessful.
"I think the cause of the accident was the weather, you may know that during that time there was a very heavy typhoon from Vietnam. Yesterday the center of the typhoon was this area," Lopangkao said.
"We have an independent accident/incident investigation team, which is carefully and seriously involved with the investigation. Once their final report is complete we will publish to the public, " he concluded.
The plane took off from Vientiane at 2:45 p.m. local time and was due to arrive at Pakse International Airport at 3:55 p.m. but crashed at approximately 4:00 p.m. several kilometers from the airport. 44 people, including five crew, are believed to have died in the crash.
According to Lao Airline President Somphone Douangdara, the captain of the plane was an experienced pilot from Cambodia and all indicators point to freak weather conditions as opposed to pilot error or a technical fault.
The aircraft, an ATR72-600, had only recorded 758 flight hours since it was put into service in March, after being purchased from France earlier in the year.
Douandgdara emphasized Lao Airlines' safety record and the fact that only highly qualified pilots and technicians are hired. The last accident occurred 14 years ago in 1999.
