A 48-year-old Kent man was among the three Boeing engineers killed in the crash of a Turkish Airlines 737-800 jet Feb. 25 in Amsterdam.
John Salman was one of four Boeing defense division engineers returning from work in Turkey. One engineer, Michael T. Hemmer, was hospitalized with injuries suffered in the crash.
Rhonda Salman, Salman’s wife, issued a statement Sunday on the Boeing Web site.
“I would like to share my appreciation to Boeing for its support of me and my family throughout this most difficult time,” Salman said. “It also has been a great comfort to know that many in Seattle, Amsterdam, Ankara (Turkey) and elsewhere are remembering us in their prayers. My family and friends request privacy from the media at this time as we work through these difficult days.”
A memorial service for Salman is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday at Kent United Methodist Church. Salman’s survivors include a young son and daughter.
“This is a very sad day for our company,” said Jim McNerney, Boeing chairman, in a Feb. 27 media release. “Our thoughts and prayers are with our colleagues’ families, friends and co-workers and with the families of everyone who was on the flight.”
As of Monday, investigators continued to look for the cause of the crash, according to the Associated Press. Nine of the 135 passengers and crew were killed on the flight from Istanbul to Amsterdam. Among those killed were the pilot, co-pilot, a trainee pilot and a flight attendant. The jet crashed in a field about a mile short of the Amsterdam airport.
The other engineers killed in the crash were Ronald Richey, of Duvall; and Ricky Wilson, of Whidbey Island.
Hemmer, of Federal Way, remained hospitalized Saturday.
Hemmer’s wife Shirley also released a statement through Boeing.
“On behalf of myself and my family, I would like to thank you for your best wishes and prayers for Michael, who continues to respond well to treatment in the hospital,” she wrote.
“We appreciate the continuation of those prayers for my husband and our family, but also his Boeing colleagues. We would also like to offer our heartfelt sympathies to the Richey, Salman and Wilson families and friends for their great loss in this tragic accident.”
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