US military calls off recovery operations

CEBU CITY — The US military called off search-and-recovery operations yesterday for a crashed MH-7E Chinook helicopter with the bodies of two American soldiers still missing.

After exhaustive efforts, officials "made the decision that they have done all they could," said US Air Force Maj. Richard Sater.

The remains of five of 10 US soldiers killed in the Feb. 22 crash off Negros Oriental arrived here yesterday, along with the engines and chunks of the aircraft’s wreckage.

The bodies were brought to the Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base where mortuary specialists would prepare them for transport to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, USA today.

The bodies of three soldiers were recovered immediately after the crash. — Freeman News Service