TRAGEDY AND IRONY IN THAI PLANE CRASH

Israelis confirmed dead in Thai crash (JTA)
Eight Israelis are confirmed dead in Sunday's Thai plane crash.

The 89 dead from the disaster in Phuket include eight vacationing Israelis, Israeli and Thai officials said Tuesday.

Among the Israeli dead were two couples on their honeymoons, and two female friends in their 20s who took a vacation together before beginning their university studies. Not all of the victims' names were immediately released.

In an effort to help Thai authorities with the process of identifying victims, Israel sent to Phuket teams from the Magen David Adom ambulance service, the police forensic unit and the ZAKA burial society. Relatives of the dead also were on hand to provide DNA samples or visual verification of identity.

Two Israeli newlyweds who survived the crash with moderate injuries were to be flown home under medical supervision, Magen David Adom said.

SEE ALSO: Iran requests aid from Israeli experts to identify crash vicitms (JPost)
Iran's ambassador to Bangkok has requested the aid of Israeli forensics experts in identifying the bodies of 18 Iranian nationals missing after a fatal plane crash Sunday. The Israel Police team arrived in Phuket on Tuesday to identify the bodies of eight missing Israelis.