US transportation safety board team to join Mangalore crash probe

A team of experts from the National Transportation Safety Board of the US would join the investigation into the Air India Express plane crash in Mangalore which claimed 158 lives.

The NTSB is an independent federal agency which investigates civil aviation accidents, besides those on the seas and highways.
    
Investigation in the crash of the Boeing 737-800 is being carried out by the DGCA, the Air Safety Department of Air India and other agencies.

"The NTSB team is coming from the US to help the DGCA in investigations. Boeing team is also joining them. A full committee will be set up to carry out the probe," Air India spokesperson Harpreet Singh De told reporters here.

De said that the body of the Air India Express commander Zlatko Glusica has been flown to Belgrade via Frankfurt.

Stating that 22 bodies, including those of the three cabin crew, were yet to be identified, De added, "80 samples of the relatives have been sent for DNA tests and their results are awaited."

"A four-member team from (US technical firm) Kenyon has
already arrived and have done the full assessment of the crash
site. We will be using their assistance in the recovery of
personal effects (of passengers and crew). However, this will
take some time," she said.