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SIMPSON BAY--The search and rescue team looking for Rigoberto Lopez Colon, the pilot who has been missing since the Skyways aircraft crashed into the sea, have found two bone fragments believed to be part of the missing pilot's spine, Civil Aviation and Maritime Authority head Louis Halley told The Daily Herald on Tuesday.
The pieces of bone were found on Monday near the search site where the wreckage of the aircraft had been located, and a watch, clothing, including pants, and identification belonging to Lopez were found nearby. Divers reported seeing sharks in the area, with one shark even present at the time of the search.
The human remains were removed from the site and handed over to the Coast Guard, who brought them back to the Coast Guard Headquarters. Lopez' relatives were informed of the find at the Headquarters. The remains were then handed over to the Forensics Department.
Preparations are now underway to arrange for forensic identification of the remains, by means of DNA comparison. First, DNA comparison material must be brought over from Puerto Rico, such as a toothbrush containing Lopez' DNA. This will then be sent to the Netherlands, along with the remains, for DNA comparison.
Halley stated that the find marked the end of the search and rescue operation, and no active searching would take place for further body parts. The Puerto Rican team will return home and preparations are now underway for the recovery of the remainder of the aircraft wreckage.
Discussions about the recovery are currently taking place with the insurance company and the remainder of the wreckage is expected to be lifted out of the sea some time next week.
