Human remains found in Lake Erie plane wreckage

By Justin Wier

jwier@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Officials announced they recovered human remains on Friday during search-and-recovery efforts for the plane carrying the Fleming family that went down over Lake Erie on Dec. 29.

Thomas Gilson, medical examiner for Cuyahoga County, said DNA testing determined the remains were of human origin and from someone of the male gender.

Search-and-recovery crews were not able to search by water on Tuesday due to weather conditions. Khlaid Bahhur, commissioner of Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland, said they hope to resume the search today.

On Monday, crews recovered a 20-foot section of the plane’s fuselage. They also found an engine, several seats, a wheel from the front of the aircraft and an 8-by-5-foot piece of the canopy with windows attached.

To date, Bahhur said they have recovered more than 170 pieces of debris, personal items and clothing they believe are related to the aircraft.

The main debris field is approximately the size of a football field, Bahhur said. There are four dive sites within the debris field where he said divers have had most of their success.

While noting that investigation is still underway, Bahhur said the debris they’re recovering suggests the plane broke apart on impact.

Crews also obtained the cockpit voice recorder on Friday. Bahhur said the National Transportation Safety Board has the recorder in Washington, D.C., right now, but it has said it could be more than a year before information from the flight recorder is released.

John Fleming, president and CEO of the Columbus-based Superior Beverage Group, was piloting the plane when it disappeared from radar.

Also on board was his wife, Suzanne, their teenage sons, Jack and Andrew, their neighbor, Brian Casey and his 19-year-old daughter, Megan.

The group was returning to Columbus from Cleveland after a Cavaliers game.

John and Suzanne were 1989 graduates of Boardman High School and their families remain in the area. A memorial service for the family was held at Canfield Presbyterian Church on Monday.

An additional service took place Tuesday in Delaware, Ohio.

Bahhur publicly thanked the crews for working tirelessly to combat with poor weather conditions.