13 Additional Victims of Alaska Airlines Crash Are Identified

PORT HUENEME —  Authorities announced Thursday they have identified 13 additional victims from the crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261, bringing to 22 the number identified so far.

Personal effects found with remains of victims helped the Ventura County medical examiner positively identify eight people aboard the flight that crashed Jan. 31 off the county coastline, spokeswoman Julie Frey said.

Dental records, fingerprints and tattoos were used to identify others. Also, the remains of the three infants aboard the flight, which carried 88 passengers and crew members, have been identified.

Only three of the victims’ names were released because family members have not been notified. They are Rachel Janosik, 20, of Enumclaw, Wash.; Rodrigo Laigo, 53, of Fairfield, Calif., and Paul “Clarke” Pulanco, 40, of Seattle.

“The notification process is lengthy,” Frey said. “The families need closure and we’re trying to work as quickly as possible.”

To assist with the identification process, the medical examiner, working at the morgue in the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Port Hueneme, has collected biopsies for possible DNA testing.

No remains have been recovered from the crash site since Monday, Frey said.

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JET INSPECTIONS

Tail parts on 1,100 airliners to be checked. A1