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Indonesian plane: Rescuers head for suspected Papua crash site | Indonesian plane: Rescuers head for suspected Papua crash site |
(35 minutes later) | |
Indonesian search and rescue teams are heading to a remote part of the western Papua region where a plane is believed to have crashed on Sunday. | Indonesian search and rescue teams are heading to a remote part of the western Papua region where a plane is believed to have crashed on Sunday. |
Officials have confirmed they spotted debris near the town of Oksibil. | Officials have confirmed they spotted debris near the town of Oksibil. |
The Trigana Air flight was heading to the town from the provincial capital, Jayapura, when it lost contact at 14:55 local time (05:55 GMT) on Sunday. | |
The plane was carrying 44 adult passengers, five children and infants, and five crew members. | The plane was carrying 44 adult passengers, five children and infants, and five crew members. |
It is not yet known if anyone survived. | It is not yet known if anyone survived. |
Indonesia post office officials told the BBC the plane was also carrying four bags containing cash, about 6.5 billion rupiah ($486,000; £300,000), for villagers living in remote places in Papua. | |
"Our colleagues carry those bags to be handed out directly to poor people over there," said the head of Jayapura's post office, Haryono, who goes by only his first name. | "Our colleagues carry those bags to be handed out directly to poor people over there," said the head of Jayapura's post office, Haryono, who goes by only his first name. |
'Pray together' | 'Pray together' |
The head of Indonesia's national search and rescue agency, Bambang Soelistyo, said a search plane had spotted suspected debris and billowing smoke at 8,500 feet above sea level, about 50km (31 miles) from Oksibil Airport. | The head of Indonesia's national search and rescue agency, Bambang Soelistyo, said a search plane had spotted suspected debris and billowing smoke at 8,500 feet above sea level, about 50km (31 miles) from Oksibil Airport. |
About 50 search and rescue workers, soldiers, and policemen are making their way from Oksibil to the site. | About 50 search and rescue workers, soldiers, and policemen are making their way from Oksibil to the site. |
The ATR42-300 twin turboprop plane took off from Sentani airport in Jayapura at 14:21, but lost contact with air traffic controllers half an hour later. | The ATR42-300 twin turboprop plane took off from Sentani airport in Jayapura at 14:21, but lost contact with air traffic controllers half an hour later. |
Bad weather is believed to have been a possible reason for the crash. A search plane was forced to turn back on Sunday because of dangerous flying conditions. | Bad weather is believed to have been a possible reason for the crash. A search plane was forced to turn back on Sunday because of dangerous flying conditions. |
Villagers had earlier told officials that a plane had crashed into a mountain. | Villagers had earlier told officials that a plane had crashed into a mountain. |
Bad weather and rugged terrain are said to be hampering efforts to reach the site. | Bad weather and rugged terrain are said to be hampering efforts to reach the site. |
Oksibil, which is about 280km south of Jayapura, is a remote, mountainous region, which is extremely difficult to navigate. | Oksibil, which is about 280km south of Jayapura, is a remote, mountainous region, which is extremely difficult to navigate. |
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has expressed his condolences on Twitter and called for the country to "pray together" for the victims. | Indonesian President Joko Widodo has expressed his condolences on Twitter and called for the country to "pray together" for the victims. |
On blacklist | On blacklist |
Trigana Air has had 14 serious incidents since it began operations in 1991, losing 10 aircraft in the process, according to the Aviation Safety Network. | Trigana Air has had 14 serious incidents since it began operations in 1991, losing 10 aircraft in the process, according to the Aviation Safety Network. |
It has been on a European Union blacklist of banned carriers since 2007. All but four of Indonesia's certified airlines are on the list. | It has been on a European Union blacklist of banned carriers since 2007. All but four of Indonesia's certified airlines are on the list. |
Indonesia has suffered two major air disasters in the past year. | Indonesia has suffered two major air disasters in the past year. |
Last December an AirAsia plane crashed in the Java Sea, killing all 192 people on board - and in July a military transport plane crashed in a residential area of Medan, Sumatra claiming 140 lives. | Last December an AirAsia plane crashed in the Java Sea, killing all 192 people on board - and in July a military transport plane crashed in a residential area of Medan, Sumatra claiming 140 lives. |
Have you been affected by this story? You can share your comments by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you been affected by this story? You can share your comments by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |