Somber landing

An Afghan National Army soldier signals an Afghan National Army Air Corps Mi-17 helicopter aircrew May 21, 2010, in Salang Pass, Afghanistan as Afghan forces land near the site of an AN-24 passenger airplane that crashed, killing all 44 passengers. ANAAC soldiers also flew in family members of the deceased to pay their respects.(U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Mike Tateishi/RELEASED)

Afghan forces locate AN-24 crash site, launch recovery effort

Published May 23, 2010
By Tech. Sgt. Michael Tateishi
438th Air Expeditionary Wing

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Afghan National Security Forces worked side-by-side during the recovery efforts of the Pamir Airlines AN-24 that crashed in the Salang Pass May 21, 2010.

During the 40 sorties to a landing zone about 1,000 feet below the crash site early Friday morning, Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police were ferried up the mountain on Mi-17 transport helicopters flown by the Afghan National Army Air Corps and the Ministry of Interior's Air Interdiction Unit.

At least 200 mountain climbers and ANA soldiers were airlifted to the landing zone in the mountain and then hiked up the 70 degree angle to the crash site that spanned four to five football fields. In addition to recovery crews, family members were escorted by ANP Mi-17's to the site to pay their respects.

"I cried for a while", said Kabul Wing Commander, Brig. Gen. Muhommed Barat who flew a number of those missions to the mountains. "I really felt bad when I saw their bodies", said Barat.

At least 33 sets of identifiable remains were recovered and other remains are pending analyses. 44 passengers and crew were killed when they hit the side of a mountain in the Salang Pass between Bagram and Kabul on Monday morning.

"I give thanks to all my partners and all my brothers that helped us find the bodies and we were able to submit them to their families", said Barat.

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