Girls Killed In SFO Crash Were Headed For SoCal Camp
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — West Valley Christian Church and School confirmed that two teens killed in an airline crash landing in San Francisco were traveling to Southern California for the church's summer camp.
"They were two 16-year-old Chinese girls that were a part of our group that were supposed to be here," Pastor Glen Kirby said.
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The teens were part of a group of 35 who were expected to arrive at the school Tuesday for the three-week study abroad program.
The Chinese government said a total of 70 middle and high school students were aboard Asiana Flight 214.
West Valley leaders told church members that the students and their families are now in need of emotional support.
"We want to grieve. We want to be real and we want to love these families that have lost their loved ones," Derek Swales, a school administrator, said. "It is a sobering reality that we each in a day could lose a loved one."
The school said the church opens its doors to international students for three weeks and offers participants an opportunity to study language arts and culture as well as to sightsee.
The Boeing 777 was carrying 291 passengers and 16 crew members when it crashed at San Francisco International Airport late Saturday morning.
A statement from Asiana Airlines identified the deceased as Ye Meng Yuan and Wang Lin Jia. Another 182 passengers were injured of the 307 people aboard the flight.
The National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the cause of the crash.
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