This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/30/indonesian-military-plane-crash-sumatra-medan

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
At least 30 people killed as Indonesian military plane crashes on Sumatra At least 30 people killed as Indonesian military plane crashes on Sumatra
(about 3 hours later)
At least 30 people have been killed after an Indonesian military transport plane crashed shortly after take-off into a city on Sumatra island, exploding in a ball of flames in a residential area.At least 30 people have been killed after an Indonesian military transport plane crashed shortly after take-off into a city on Sumatra island, exploding in a ball of flames in a residential area.
The Hercules plane hit a hotel and houses in the northern Sumatra city of Medan on Tuesday, an official said.The Hercules plane hit a hotel and houses in the northern Sumatra city of Medan on Tuesday, an official said.
“The latest information we have is that 30 have died.... The number could go up,” Hisar Turnip, a spokesman for Indonesia’s search and rescue agency, told Reuters.“The latest information we have is that 30 have died.... The number could go up,” Hisar Turnip, a spokesman for Indonesia’s search and rescue agency, told Reuters.
It was not immediately clear how many of the victims were in the plane or on the ground.It was not immediately clear how many of the victims were in the plane or on the ground.
The plane was on its way from an air force base in Medan to the remote Natuna islands and crashed a few minutes after takeoff.The plane was on its way from an air force base in Medan to the remote Natuna islands and crashed a few minutes after takeoff.
Dramatic pictures on social media showed large crowds and emergency services gathering around the flaming wreckage, with the fuselage of the aircraft visible among thick plumes of black smoke. Buildings in the vicinity of the crash zone were also clearly damaged.Dramatic pictures on social media showed large crowds and emergency services gathering around the flaming wreckage, with the fuselage of the aircraft visible among thick plumes of black smoke. Buildings in the vicinity of the crash zone were also clearly damaged.
#BREAKING #IndonesianAirForce #C130 reg no. #A1310 crashed departing Medan Polonia otw Tanjung Pinang. pic.twitter.com/Yh0dB3HWV1#BREAKING #IndonesianAirForce #C130 reg no. #A1310 crashed departing Medan Polonia otw Tanjung Pinang. pic.twitter.com/Yh0dB3HWV1
“I saw the plane from the direction of the airport and it was tilting already, then I saw smoke billowing,” local resident Januar, 26, told AFP, giving only his first name.“I saw the plane from the direction of the airport and it was tilting already, then I saw smoke billowing,” local resident Januar, 26, told AFP, giving only his first name.
He said the plane crashed into a newly built residential area, although it was unclear whether it was occupied yet. Police had cordoned off the area.He said the plane crashed into a newly built residential area, although it was unclear whether it was occupied yet. Police had cordoned off the area.
“A Hercules was … transporting military logistics from Medan,” military spokesman Fuad Basya told AFP. Indonesian military commander General Moeldoko has called for an investigation into the crash.
The plane took off at 12.08pm local time (05.08 GMT) from an airforce base and crashed in the city just two minutes later, about 5km (three miles) from the base, he said. The plane took off at 12.08pm local time (05.08 GMT) from an airforce base and crashed in the city just two minutes later, about 5km (three miles) from the base.
Asked about potential casualties, Basya said: “We don’t know for sure but inside there will be the plane crew, pilot, but I don’t know how many.” The Hercules aircraft was conducting a routine logistics operation before it crashed, said Air Force Chief Marshal Agus Supriyatna.According to the Air Force Marshal the aircraft was produced in 1964, but was well maintained and was regularly used to transport personnel.“It’s an all-weather aircraft, our mainstay for transport aircraft,” he said.
“It crashed near a residential area and caught fire,” search and rescue agency official Tatang Zainuddin told AFP. It is the third Indonesian Air Force Hercules to crash since 2001, when a Hercules overshot the runway and burst into flames with no casualties, according to the Aviation Safety Network.
“We have asked our search and rescue office in Medan to immediately go to the site for evacuation of any victims.” In 2009, an Indonesian Air Force Hercules hit four houses before skidding into a rice field killing 95 people onboard and two on the ground, the group said.
In December, an Airbus A320 run by AirAsia crashed on a flight from Indonesia to Singapore, killing all 162 people onboard.
Agence France-Presse and Reuters contributed to this report.Agence France-Presse and Reuters contributed to this report.