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At least 30 people killed as Indonesian military plane crashes on Sumatra Dozens feared dead 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. Dozens are feared dead 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 air force chief, Air Marshall Agus Supriatna, said there were 12 crew and more than 100 passengers on the plane before it reached Medan but it is unclear how many were on board when it left.
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.
At least 49 bodies have been recovered and taken to Medan’s Adam Malik hospital. It was not immediately clear how many of the victims were in the plane or on the ground.
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.
Smoke billowed from the site and several thousand people milled nearby. Rescue teams scrambled over the rubble, searching for any survivors.
#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. Many passengers were families of military personnel. Hitching rides on military planes to reach remote destinations is common in Indonesia, a sprawling archipelago that spans three time zones.
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. The plane had traveled from the capital, Jakarta, and stopped at two locations before arriving at Medan. The air force is still to trying to determine how many people got off or boarded during that journey.
Indonesian military commander General Moeldoko has called for an investigation into the crash. Supriatna said 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.
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.
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 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.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.
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 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.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.