Indonesia plane crash: Boeing 737 vanishes over sea
Sun Online Desk
9th January, 2021 08:12:21
A Boeing 737 passenger plane is believed to have crashed into the sea after disappearing from radar and plunging 10,000ft.
The Sriwijaya Air passenger jet lost contact after taking off from Indonesian capital Jakarta earlier today en route to Pontianak in West Kalimantan province.
It had more than 60 people on board - including 10 children.
Photos show rescue workers pulling debris from the water in a desperate search for survivors.
The Indonesia rescue agency confirmed suspected debris of the flight had been found.
No radio beacon signal had been detected, the agency said.
8326 Members of the media gather as officials set up a monitor at a temporary crisis centre organised in the domestic terminal of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, after Sriwijaya Air plane flight SJ182 lost contact after taking off, in Tangerang, near Jakarta, Indonesia, January 9, 2021. Reuters
Jakarta, January 9
A Sriwijaya Air plane crashed into the sea on Saturday minutes after taking off from Indonesia s capital Jakarta on a domestic flight with 62 people on board, and their fate was not known.
The Boeing 737-500, en route to Pontianak in West Kalimantan, disappeared from radar screens after taking off just after 2.30 pm (0730 GMT) -30 minutes after the scheduled time because of heavy rain.
“We are aware of media reports from Jakarta regarding Sriwijaya Air flight SJ-182,” Boeing said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the crew, passengers, and their families. We are in contact with our airline customer and stand ready to support them during this difficult time.”
The jetliner lost more than 10,000 feet in altitude in one minute, four minutes after departure, according to the flight tracking service FlightRadar24.com. The plane s last known altitude was 250 feet; its highest altitude was 10,900 feet, the service reported.
A plane flying from Jakarta to Pontianak would spend most of the flight over the Java Sea.
A Sriwijaya Air jet carrying 62 people lost contact with air traffic controllers minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital on a domestic flight on Saturday, and debris found by fishermen was being examined to see if it was from the missing plane, officials said.