Heng Samrin’s nephew died in PMT Air plane crash

A portrait Hean Chandara, a Cambodian pilot who died in a plane crash in Kamport province, southern Cambodia, is seen during his funeral ceremony at a pagoda in Phnom Penh June 28, 2007. Rescue teams found the wreckage of the Antonov AN-24 that was carrying 22 people, including 13 Korean and three Czech tourists, high on a jungle-clad Cambodian mountain on Wednesday. There were no survivors. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Two pilots with same first name died during PMT Air plane crash

Friday, June 29, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Two of the Cambodian pilots among the other 5 Cambodian airline employees who died during the plane crash, carry the same first name with a slight difference in spelling, and both are captain: the first pilot name is Ut Chan Tara, and the second pilot’s name is Hean Chan Dara. The two men died at the same time on the same flight in an unbelievable coincidence. The remains of the two men are on display at Wat Langka pagoda, and will be cremated today. Among the two, Hean Chan Dara is the nephew of Heng Samrin, president of the National Assembly. Hean Chan Dara is 42-year-old, and was born in Svay Rieng province. In 1982, he went to study in the former Soviet Union to become an airplane mechanics, and in 1996 he learned to fly AN-24-type airplanes. He pursued additional flight training in China in 1997. He is survived by his wife and two children. 46-year-old Ut Chan Tara went to pursue pilot training in the Soviet Union in 1985. He was born in Sa’ang district, Kandal province. He is survived by his wife and 3 children.