Eight Israelis Still Missing After Thai Air Disaster, Bodies Waiting to be Identified

Several Israelis were found among the dead following the Sept. 16 crash of a Thai airliner on the country's island resort of Phuket, according to Rabbi Nehemia Wilhelm, co-director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Thailand. Two others, Vladimir and Isabelle Frielichman, were located among the injured by Rabbi Aaron Solomon, who manages the Chabad House in Phuket.

According to Nechama Dina Wilhelm, who co-directs Chabad-Lubavitch of Thailand with her husband, the two Israelis who are alive "were saved by miracles," emerging from the charred remains of the McDonnell Douglas MD-82 aircraft with only moderate injuries.

She said that at least two of the missing were among the 1,200 who showed up for Rosh Hashanah services and meals last week.

Flight 269, operated by Orient Thai Airways subsidiary One-Two-Go Airlines and carrying 123 passengers and five crew members, originated in Bangkok and attempted a landing in driving wind and rain. It broke apart on impact before skidding off the runway.

Thai police said late Sunday that 88 were confirmed dead in the disaster, and another 42 made it out alive. Ten Israelis were onboard.

In the hours following the crash, Wilhelm dispatched Chabad staff to Phuket area hospitals to locate any Jews that were on the flight. The resort island is a popular destination among Israelis.

Workers turned on Monday to the grim task of identifying the deceased. The Web site of the Hebrew-language daily Yediot Achranot reported that at least one Israeli identification card was found next to a body taken from the wreckage.

Solomon said earlier in the day that all positive identifications would be confirmed by an Israeli forensics team due to arrive that evening before notifying families.

Dassie Solomon, the rabbi's wife, said that she was supposed to meet several of the Israelis on Sunday after their arrival in Phuket. The Chabad House is the first destination of many Jewish tourists, she said.

"I, of course, never had the chance to meet them," she stated. "They were supposed to come. All the Israelis come straight from the airport."

Solomon said that some of the backpacker population in Phuket was heading home following the tragedy.

"And many are praying," for the dead and missing, she added.