TRANSPORT MINISTRY ISSUES TEMPORARY REPORT ON DUBROVNIK PLANE CRAS

CRAS $ H ZAGREB, 4 April (Hina) - Croatian Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Communications, Zeljko Luzavec, read out at tonight's Government session a Temporary Report on the investigation of the crash of the U.S. plane B737-200, made by the Commission for the investigation of the case on the basis of today's findings. 'The last contact between the plane and the flight control was made at 14:55 hours after a properly issued permission for the approach. After 2:55 pm, the pilot did not contact the flight control any more and the flight control started a search procedure. 'At 6:30 pm, it was confirmed that the plane had crashed in the area of Velji Do. During a visit to the crash site it was established that the plane had hit Strazisce hill (701 m), some 30 meters below the very peak from the its north-western side', the report said. 'For still unknown reasons the pilot flew left of the proper approach line'. 'Out of 32 recovered bodies, two were Croatian nationals. The body of one passenger (female) is in the Dubrovnik hospital. This passenger had been found alive but died on the way to hospital'. 'Representatives of the U.S. investigation team arrived in Dubrovnik this afternoon. The team includes 22 experts. The Commission will continue with joint work', the report said. (hina) rm jn 042348 MET apr 96