Haris Suleman's family arrives in American Samoa to receive young pilot's remains

Authorities are expected to brief Haris' family about rescue efforts.

COLUMBIA, MISSOURI: Family members of the Pakistani-American Haris Suleman, whose plane had crashed into the Pacific ocean during an attempt to fly around the world earlier in the week, have reached Pago Pago on Saturday to receive his body.

The father-son duo were flying a single engine aircraft which crashed near Pago Pago Island on July 23 for reasons not known as yet. At the time of the crash Haris, whose body was recovered a few hours after the crash, had been attempting to become the youngest pilot ever to complete the journey. However, authorities were still searching for his father, Babar Suleman.

“Haris' family members are in Pago Pago at the moment. In the next one hour, as the sun rises there, they will be briefed by rescue teams about the operation. Agencies involved in search operation will question family members too,” a close family friend of Haris told The Express Tribune.

“However, rescue teams could not find Babar Suleman so far,” he added.

Officials of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said that a search for Babar, the 58-year old Pakistani-born father of Haris, was continuing. It will continue till next Sunday, they added.

While the NTSB can’t release details of rescue operation, but they explained that Haris’ family will be briefed about the operation on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Bert Thompson of Matuu, American Samoa, told the media that the coast guards did not see any sign of fire, explosions or emergency lighting on the ill-fated plane of Haris Suleman.