News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Two Israeli couples who married two weeks ago and five months ago are among eight Israelis missing in the Sunday plane tragedy in southern Thailand, Foreign Ministry officials said. A team of forensic experts is en route to Thailand to assist in identifying the victims, but the Foreign Ministry emphasized that it is not yet known if the Israelis were killed. Local Chabad leaders said that in addition to those missing, two Israelis have been hospitalized.

The plane crashed as it began to land at the Phuket airport, killing at least 88 and injuring 42 others. The plane skidded off the runway during a heavy storm.