“No survivors” in Indonesian plane crash
The wreckage of a Russian aircraft that crashed in Indonesia on Wednesday has been found, but there is no sign of any survivors.
Russian media reported local search and rescue workers as saying that debris was located on the slopes of Mount Salak, the West Java peak where the aircraft was last sighted. Rescuers are reported to have discovered bodies at the remote location, but RT.com said that “no survivors were found”.
“Rescuers in helicopters could clearly see the wreckage located at the top of Mount Salak, including the blue-and-white emblem of the aircraft maker,” RT.com reported a spokesperson for Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency as saying. Images from the crash site show debris littering a wide area of the jungle-clad slopes.
The new Sukhoi Superjet 100 had just taken off from Jakarta’s Halim Perdanakusuma Airport for a demonstration flight when it disappeared from radar screens. Local residents reported seeing the aircraft flying low, but no explosions or loud impact sounds were heard, leading to hopes that the plane may have made a safe emergency landing.
Forty passengers and eight crew were onboard the aircraft at the time of the crash.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s Kartika Airlines has said it may delay the delivery of its Sukhoi Superjet 100s following the crash. The airline has ordered 30 of the aircraft and was due to take delivery of the first plane in September 2012. Kartika officials told local media today however, that the airline would wait for an investigation into the cause of Wednesday’s crash before proceeding with the deliveries.