Aussies killed in plane crash identified

March 10, 2007 - 7:35PM

Australian authorities have identified five Australians killed in the Garuda air crash in Yogyakarta this week, the Australian Federal Police said.

"I could now confirm Brice Steele, Elizabeth O'Neill, Allison Sudradjat, Morgan Mellish and Mark Scott have been positively identified as being involved in the accident," Australian Federal Police agent Michael Travers said.

Agent Travers, who is commander of Australia's Disaster Victims' Identification Unit in Yogyakarta, said Australian officials were working with their Indonesian colleagues to finalise the paperwork and the repatriation of the bodies back to Australia.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, who had returned from Indonesia, said it was with profound sadness that he had received formal confirmation of the deaths.

He said their next of kin had been advised of the news by Australian government officials.

"On behalf of the Australian government I wish to convey our deepest condolences to all of the families," Mr Downer said in a statement.

"We are now discussing with the families their wishes regarding arrangements for the return of their loved ones to Australia.

"Recognising that all individuals involved were in their various roles serving the Australian people, we have offered to arrange for their return and any other assistance needed.

"At this time we also remember the many Indonesians who lost their lives in this tragic accident and convey our heartfelt sympathies to their families."

He said the Australian government thanked the Indonesian authorities for their cooperation and assistance.

It is expected to be a number of days before the bodies are returned to Australia, with formal paperwork needed to be completed before being released by the Indonesian government.

Final arrangements for the repatriation of the bodies would be made in consultation with the families of the five victims, Agent Travers said.

"We are always relieved when we can get closure especially for the families," he said.

Agent Travers said the AFP would remain in Indonesia to help local authorities with the crash investigation.

He praised the work of his Indonesian counterparts.

"Every time I come here to Indonesia we work so closely with our Indonesian colleagues, it's almost like being at home," he said.

It's understood some of the relatives of the victims flew into Yogyakarta on Saturday afternoon.

Agent Travers said dental records had been one of the three primary identifiers used.

"We also used secondary identifiers such as property located on the deceased," he said.

"We also used a fairly new technique.

"We had two forensic odontologists from Australia use a process of superimposition of pictures of teeth of one of the deceased to photographs that were taken of the deceased after the event.

"This the first time this process has been used here in Indonesia ... in relation to teeth alone."