Lao Air to release report on deadly crash

Lao Airlines is set to release the findings from an investigation into a plane crash that killed 49 people, including six Australians, last year.

The Lao Airlines ATR 7620 twin turbo prop aircraft crashed into the Mekong River during severe weather on October 16, 2013, while it was approaching Pakse Airport in the Laos province of Champasak.

The black box data recorders were recovered from the French-Italian made plane and taken to Europe for the formal investigation into the accident.

Besides the Australians, the crash killed 17 from Laos, as well as seven French, five Thai, three South Koreans, and two Vietnamese passengers.

Individuals from China, Myanmar, Taiwan, and an American also died, while the pilot was Cambodian.

A memorial ceremony for the Laotians was marked in early October, but Lao Government officials have also extended invitations to relatives of the foreign victims to attend a service on Friday.

Among the Australians killed was Sydney tax agent Gavin Rhodes, his wife Phoumalaysy (Lea), their daughter and a baby boy.

The other Australian victims were 42-year-old aid worker Michael Creighton, and his father, Gordon Creighton, who had been visiting his son in Laos.

The strong winds linked to a tropical typhoon hit the aircraft as it descended to the airport, crashing just seven kilometres from its destination.