Morocco sets up fact-finding commission on Spanish plane crash

Morocco set up a technical fact-finding commission to investigate the crash of a Spanish plane Friday, which killed all of the 34 passengers, including two Moroccans, and four crew.

The Moroccan Transport Ministry announced Saturday the creation of the commission in conformity with national and international rules to investigate the causes of the crash of the plane into a hillside near Morocco's Mediterranean coast on Friday.

The ministry said that both the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder were recovered.

The plane, a Pauknair regular flight from the southern Spanish city of Malaga to Melilia (Moroccan norther town still under Spanish rule) crashed near the village of Boumahfoud, 30 km from the Moroccan northeastern town of Nador, as it was preparing to land in Melilia.

Moroccan security authorities, which coordinated the rescue operations with Spanish peers, put four helicopters and one plane at the disposal of Spain in addition to ground assistance to recover bodies, possessions and debris, while Spain used two helicopters and other means.

The bodies of the 38 victims were all recovered by rescuers and repatriated to Melilia on Friday evening.