SURAT THANI, Thailand -- Using bare hands and bulldozers to sift through the waters of a flooded rubber plantation, rescue workers recovered the bodies of 100 people who died in the crash of a Thai Airways jetliner before suspending their search Saturday.
Forty-five survivors of flight TG261, including 12 foreign passengers, were sent to local hospitals in Surat Thani, a fishing port and travel hub for vacation resorts 330 miles southwest of Bangkok.One passenger was still missing and presumed dead, police and airline officials said.
Police said many of the bodies were burned beyond recognition and could not be identified.
Investigators began looking into the cause of Friday's crash as survivors recounted the flight's chaotic final moments. Police said the black box, or flight recorder, was recovered early Saturday.
Flight attendant Akradej Pudemha said that as the plane shook violently on its third attempt to land in a heavy storm, some passengers began to panic.
"People started screaming. I told them to calm down, but some were out of control," he said. "They wouldn't stay in their seats. They were thrown around by the shaking of the plane and luggage was flying everywhere."
The flight attendant, who helped rescue 10 passengers, said most of the survivors were seated at the front of the aircraft.
The Airbus A310-200 plunged into the swamp at around 6:45 p.m., about 760 yards from the runway, then burst into flames.
Of the 25 foreigners aboard, 12 survived. Among the survivors were three Australians, three Japanese, three Germans, two Israelis and one Briton.