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Girls killed in crash were headed for camp

The two teenage girls killed in the crash of a San Francisco-bound jetliner were Chinese students on their way to a summer camp in the United States.
Asiana Airliens 777 crashes at San Francisco International Airport

(CNN) — The two teenage girls killed in the weekend crash of a San Francisco-bound jetliner were Chinese students on their way to a summer camp in the United States, airline officials and Chinese news outlets reported Sunday.

Asiana Airlines identified the girls as Ye Mengyuan and Wang Linjia, both 16. They died when Asiana Flight 214 crashed and burst into flames on landing at San Francisco International Airport on Saturday.

China’s state news agency Xinhua said they were from the eastern city of Jiangshan, traveling with classmates and teachers to an American summer camp. A total of 70 students and teachers were among the 141 Chinese nationals on board the Boeing 777, Xinhua reported.

Their bodies were found outside the plane. San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White said it was her understanding that they were found on the runway.

Chinese President Xi Jinping “mourned for Chinese citizens who lost their lives in the plane crash and expressed his condolences to their families as well as survivors of the crash,” Xinhua reported late Sunday.

Asiana 214 carried 291 passengers and a crew of 16. The flight originated in Shanghai with a stop in Seoul, South Korea.

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