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Published on September 18, 2007

Nitya talked to reporters after meeting with envoys, including British and Israeli ambassadors, who arrived in Phuket yesterday to obtain first-hand information about their citizens, who made up more than half of the 123 passengers on the jet that crashed at Phuket International Airport.

Kongsak Angsuwan, director-general of the Air Transport Department, said the United States would send experts to inspect the crash.

Nitya told reporters that an eight-man team of forensic experts from Israel were on their way and would start working with Thai counterparts this morning.

Australia has reportedly expressed willingness to assist with the investigation but so far nothing has been confirmed.

The ministry has set up a coordinating centre at the airport to serve as the point of contact for the international community, Nitya said.

Israel's ambassador Yael Rubinstein said so far her embassy could confirm that 10 Israelis were on board the flight.

"We found two were in hospital with slight injuries. We are still looking for where the other eight are located," she said.

The American Embassy in Bangkok confirmed that four American tourists were killed and one survived, while Australia has said one of its citizens, a man, died in the crash and one man was injured.

The British Embassy has said "several" Britons were among the 89 killed in the crash and at least two were injured, but a spokeswoman was unable to give exact numbers.

Three French nationals were killed and one injured, the foreign ministry announced in Paris, while six remain missing.

Officials in Germany have confirmed that at least one national - a 29-year-old man - died and four were injured, while the Swedish foreign ministry said one Swede was killed, two survived and one was unaccounted for.

The Nation, Agencies

PHUKET