Press Release 

Date of Release:  - 10 February 2005    

Presidential Palace, Kabul – H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, said this afternoon that he believed that there were no survivors from the Kam Air Boeing 737 flight, which crashed on Thursday 3 February 2005 in Kabul. 

Addressing a press availability at the Presidential Palace this afternoon, following his meeting with the ministers and representatives of the organisations leading the ongoing search operation, the President said:

“Today, I had a meeting with the ministers of Defence and Transport, and representatives of ISAF and other ministries involved in the search operation for the Kam Air airplane.  They reported to me that, unfortunately, no one from the passengers and crew on the plane are alive.  Therefore, I present my deep condolences to the people of Afghanistan, especially to the families of the victims.  My sympathy also goes to the families of the foreigners who also perished in the crash.”   

“This incident made us extremely sad.  The crash of the Kam Air plane took place last Thursday, and the location of the incident was found two days later.  The Ministries of the Interior, Defence, Transport and Health, along with the ISAF, the CFC and other organisations went to the location and investigated the incident, despite many difficulties.  Four or five persons from the National Army are currently in hospital being treated for frostbite and other injuries during the operation.”

“The result of the investigation shows that the crash of the Kam Air plane happened in a way that there was no chance for anyone on board to survive.  Different parts of the plane are scattered over a very wide area.  Now, means have to be found to return the bodies to the families of the victims.  The team is also searching for the black box, which will help the investigation and will provide details of the incident to the people of Afghanistan.  May God protect the people of Afghanistan from this kind of tragedy in the future.”

“I would like to thank the ISAF and Coalition forces, the ministries of Defence, the Interior, Health and Transport, and other bodies who have taken part in the search and rescue operations under very hard conditions”.

Released by the Office of the Spokesman to the President