Kalistani Major History

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PRESIDENT'S PLANE DOWN AT SEA
President, Foreign Minister, and 52 staff and Crew presumed dead
June 7, 3925
Kaliburg, Ananto

The popular President, Elga Bjorksdattir, and the Foreign Minister of the Imperial Republic of Kalistan from the Socialist Party, Eduardo Gallegos were enroute to the planned state visit with the Tsar of the Empire of Trigunia when the pilot of the Presidential plane reported to Kalistani air escorts that the plane was experiencing engine troubles.  The jets were flying above the seas to the west of Dolgaria when the incident occurred.  The Presidential pilot attempted to orient the jet toward Dolgaria to attempt an emergency landing, but airforce ground control reported that the pilot noted that controls were unresponsive.  The pilot was able to restore some hydraulic control using backup systems, but the resulting heat of the failed hydraulic system was enough to cause one of the engines to catch fire.  Escort pilots reported a ball of flames directly afterward, and then the Presidential plane disintegrated in mid air.  At this point, contact was lost, and the sea was showered with the wreckage of the plane.


The Kalistani Navy launches an early morning sea and air rescue and recovery effort

The Kalistani Navy immediately scrambled a search and rescue effort for any survivors, but they were only several hours out of Kalistan when night fell over the sight.  The Military jets, receiving refuel, remained over the site until the ships arrived just before 5am.  After sunrise, search was commenced, but no bodies were recovered.  Naval divers were able, however to recover the aircraft's black box due to a homing beacon, and investigators are now looking into it to see if they can determine the cause of the malfunction.  No details have been forthcoming.

President Bjorksdattir was 32 years old at the time of her untimely loss.  Foreign Minister Gallegos was 63.  Bjorksdattir was survived by her Partner, Jill Dorin of Ananto District, while Gallegos is survived by his wife Yolanda, his 3 children, Michael, Jesus, and Isabella, all of Suldanor.  All 52 members of the Staff and Crew on the plane have also been declared lost at sea.  Their individual obituaries are printed on p. A18.


President of the Republic Elga Bjorksdattir-Carrangus, early in her first Administration


FM Eduardo Gallegos, long serving Socialist foreign Minister, during the Petroleum Nationalization Campaign

Prime Minister San Xavier has been temporarily affirmed as Interim President of Kalistan, and will serve out the remainder of Bjorksdattir's term.  A memorial service for the lost President, Foreign Minister and Staff and Crew is planned at Kaliburg International Harbor in early August.  All government flags in the Republic have been ordered taken down until after the memorial, and privately owned flags are requested to be flown at half-mast.