Laos on Friday said rescuers had recovered at least 17 bodies after a plane plunged into the Mekong River in the country's worst air disaster, with one corpse found miles downstream from the crash site.
All those on board the plane died when the Lao Airlines turboprop ATR-72 went down in stormy weather on Wednesday.
Of the forty-nine passengers and crew, more than half of them were foreigners from nearly a dozen countries.
Volunteers searched the river on boats of all sizes, mustered for the grim task of plucking the dead from the turbulent waters and its muddy banks.
The aircraft sank to the bottom of the river. Rescuers said that recovering the wreckage would be an extremely difficult task, complicated by raging currents.
Soubinh Keophet, a former national footballer and volunteer with a Laos rescue foundation, said one body was discovered as far as 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the crash site.
"We travelled 50 kilometres (31 miles) along the river and found four bodies," he said, after he pulled a recently discovered limb from the water.
"Although they know the location of the crash, they still can't find the main body of the plane because it has broken up into small parts and spread everywhere and the current is very strong," he added.
A witness recounted a desperate attempt to rescue passengers after the plane dived nose first into the river.
"The front of the plane went under but the tail was still floating. There was smoke coming out," Pham Quang Nhat told Vietnam's Tuoi Tre newspaper.
"We waited to be sure the plane would not explode then some people used boats to approach the plane, climbing on the wings hoping to find survivors. But we couldn't get inside," the Vietnamese worker said.
Sommad Pholsena, Laos minister of public works and transport, told reporters that 17 bodies had been found so far.
"We have to investigate about the cause of the accident but initially I think it was caused by bad weather," he said.
A large Laos naval vessel, several smaller Thai and Laos rescue boats, dinghies and a jet ski were seen on the waters on Friday.
Thai Transport Minister Chatchat Sitthipan said near the scene that the rescue operation was being led by local authorities with the support of the Thai navy, airforce and volunteer rescue teams.
"We stand ready to support Laos with whatever it needs," he said.
The flight from the capital Vientiane was carrying 44 passengers and five crew, including 28 foreigners, when it crashed near Pakse airport in Champasak province, according to officials.
Rows of wooden coffins were seen at a mortuary in Pakse, which is a hub for tourists travelling to more remote areas in southern Laos.
Lao Airlines said the aircraft hit "extreme" bad weather while witnesses described seeing the plane buffeted by strong winds caused by tropical storm Nari.
According to an updated passenger list from the airline, there were 16 Laotians, seven French travellers, six Australians, five Thais, three South Koreans, three Vietnamese, and one national each from the US, Malaysia, China and Taiwan.
Australia said a family of four was among its nationals feared dead.
The pilot was a Cambodian national said to have "many years" of flying experience.
French-Italian aircraft manufacturer ATR said the twin-engine turboprop aircraft was new and had been delivered in March.
Witnesses recounted seeing the plane in trouble before it came down.
"I heard a boom! A sound like a bomb going off. There was smoke and flames before it crashed," local village chief Buasorn Kornthong, 37, told AFP.
Founded in 1976, Lao Airlines serves domestic airports and destinations in China, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Impoverished Laos, a one-party communist state, has seen 29 fatal air accidents since the 1950s, according to the Aviation Safety Network.
Previously its worst air disaster was in 1954 when 47 people died in an Air Vietnam crash near Pakse, the organisation said.
AFP
Fri Oct 18 2013
![17 bodies found after Laos air disaster: minister 17 bodies found after Laos air disaster: minister](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-10/61382061983_295x200.jpg)
![Pekerja cuci kereta maut, pengawal keselamatan cedera ditetak di Bedong, Kedah Pekerja cuci kereta maut, pengawal keselamatan cedera ditetak di Bedong, Kedah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723770703_maut.jpg)
Pekerja cuci kereta maut, pengawal keselamatan cedera ditetak di Bedong, Kedah
Tiga lelaki berusia 20-an hingga 30-an ditahan polis di sekitar Sungai Petani untuk membantu siasatan berhubung kes itu.
!['Fizikal, mentaliti Azizulhasni lain macam' - Beasley 'Fizikal, mentaliti Azizulhasni lain macam' - Beasley](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723768502_JohnBeasley.jpg)
'Fizikal, mentaliti Azizulhasni lain macam' - Beasley
Beliau berkata, ia berdasarkan kepada kekuatan mental dan fizikal pelumba yang terkenal dengan julukan The Pocket Rocketman itu.
![Penganjuran sukan mampu kukuhkan kerjasama keselamatan - Ab Rauf Penganjuran sukan mampu kukuhkan kerjasama keselamatan - Ab Rauf](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723768689_abraufyusoh.jpg)
Penganjuran sukan mampu kukuhkan kerjasama keselamatan - Ab Rauf
Penganjuran sukan dapat memperkukuh kerjasama dalam memelihara keselamatan dan keamanan, kata Ketua Menteri Melaka.
![Sedut 'gas ketawa', Tottenham gantung pemain menjelang aksi pembukaan Sedut 'gas ketawa', Tottenham gantung pemain menjelang aksi pembukaan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723768526_soccermatch.jpg)
Sedut 'gas ketawa', Tottenham gantung pemain menjelang aksi pembukaan
Pemain berusia 27 tahun itu menyifatkan tindakannya 'tidak wajar' dan memohon maaf menerusi satu video, selepas dia menyedut nitrus oksida.
AWANI Pagi: iFUTURE 2024 : Pemerkasaan mahasiswa merentas benua
Awani Pagi bersama Afiezy Azaman & Farhan Hakimi membincangkan mengenai bagaimana usaha pemerkasaan mahasiswa yang merentasi benua digerakkan menerusi iFUTURE 2024. Diskusi bersama dua tetamu, Prof Dr. Azlinda Azman, Pengarah Pendidikan Tinggi, Jabatan Pendidikan Tinggi dan Syahril Ahmad Sofian, Presiden Majlis Perundingan Pelajar Kebangsaan (MPPK). Ikuti perbincangannya, 7:30 pagi
![SUKMA 2024: Berbasikal terus jadi lubuk emas Terengganu SUKMA 2024: Berbasikal terus jadi lubuk emas Terengganu](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723767551_MuhammadIqbalDanie.jpg)
SUKMA 2024: Berbasikal terus jadi lubuk emas Terengganu
Dua emas itu diperoleh daripada Muhamad Iqbal Daniel Mohd Nawawi dalam kategori individu yang pada masa sama membantu acara berpasukan.
![Surah al-Jumuah bentuk sahsiah diri Surah al-Jumuah bentuk sahsiah diri](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723767192_TBquranhour.jpg)
Surah al-Jumuah bentuk sahsiah diri
Ia membolehkan masyarakat membebaskan jiwa mereka daripada unsur kemungkaran dan mendekatkan diri kepada keadilan Islam.
![Brunei cipta sejarah raih emas SUKMA selepas 10 tahun Brunei cipta sejarah raih emas SUKMA selepas 10 tahun](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723767295_WalidLachkar.jpg)
Brunei cipta sejarah raih emas SUKMA selepas 10 tahun
Walid tampil dengan gerakan tangkas dan kemas di Dewan Wushu SSC di sini, berjaya memikat hati juri untuk menghadiahkan mata tertinggi 9.613.
!['Rakaman CCTV nampak Nidza Afham beli air, keluar minum' - Abang ipar 'Rakaman CCTV nampak Nidza Afham beli air, keluar minum' - Abang ipar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723766033_RakamanCCTVNidza.jpg)
'Rakaman CCTV nampak Nidza Afham beli air, keluar minum' - Abang ipar
Abang ipar kepada Allahyarham, Muhammad Effrie Amron berkata, itu antara rakaman CCTV premis yang dikatakan diterima pihak keluarga.
Aktres veteran Gena Rowlands meninggal dunia
Aktres veteran Amerika Syarikat (AS), Gena Rowlands, yang membintangi filem box-office The Notebook dan Another Woman, meninggal dunia pada Rabu di usia 94 tahun.
![Laman web UPUOnline ada masalah, tidak boleh diakses? Laman web UPUOnline ada masalah, tidak boleh diakses?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-06/71623734630_sistemupucrash.jpg)
Laman web UPUOnline ada masalah, tidak boleh diakses?
Ramai yang teruja namun perasaan itu terbantut seketika apabila ramai mendakwa laman web UPUOnline menghadapi masalah.
![Pencarian 'kotak hitam' kedua pesawat Sriwijaya Air diteruskan Pencarian 'kotak hitam' kedua pesawat Sriwijaya Air diteruskan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-01/61610523898_SRIWIJAYAAIRDEBRIS.jpg)
Pencarian 'kotak hitam' kedua pesawat Sriwijaya Air diteruskan
Kotak hitam pertama ditemui pasukan penyelamat di sekitar Pulau Laki dan Pulau Lancang pada Selasa.
![Indonesian jet flew erratically the day before it crashed Indonesian jet flew erratically the day before it crashed](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-10/61540811768_LionAir.jpg)
Indonesian jet flew erratically the day before it crashed
The Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX jet that crashed in Indonesia on Monday morning flew erratically during a flight the previous evening when it experienced a "technical problem".
![Peminat BTS punca laman web, aplikasi GSC tidak berfungsi! Peminat BTS punca laman web, aplikasi GSC tidak berfungsi!](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-10/51540248034_BTS.jpg)
Peminat BTS punca laman web, aplikasi GSC tidak berfungsi!
Kumpulan K-Pop terkenal Korea Selatan, BTS bukan sahaja menggegarkan pentas dunia, malah turut menggoncang dunia internet!
![Penumpang cemas selepas pesawat Germanwings terima ancaman bom Penumpang cemas selepas pesawat Germanwings terima ancaman bom](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-03/71427196116_295x200.jpg)
Penumpang cemas selepas pesawat Germanwings terima ancaman bom
Para penumpang dan anak kapal penerbangan Germanwings dari Cologne, Jerman ke Milan, Itali cemas seketika apabila diarahkan mengosongkan pesawat susulan mendapat ancaman bom.
![Laporan nahas genting didedahkan kepada umum Laporan nahas genting didedahkan kepada umum](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-08/51377092100_295x200.jpg)
Laporan nahas genting didedahkan kepada umum
Orang ramai dijemput membaca laporan penuh berhubung nahas bas terjunam di Genting Highlands pada 21 Ogos tahun lalu.