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Indonesia transport plane crash death toll rises | Indonesia transport plane crash death toll rises |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Indonesian officials say 122 people are now known to have been on board a military transport plane which crashed in a residential area of Medan. | Indonesian officials say 122 people are now known to have been on board a military transport plane which crashed in a residential area of Medan. |
No-one is believed to have survived after the Hercules C-130 plane hit houses and a hotel before bursting into flames on Tuesday. | |
Officials have removed 130 body bags, indicating some people on the ground also died. | |
Many of the victims are thought to have been relatives of servicemen and women. | |
The BBC's Alice Budisatrijo in Jakarta says the military has repeatedly revised the passenger list, a sign of how loosely the military keeps track of who gets on its planes. | |
It is also investigating whether some of those on board were paying passengers which is not permitted, she adds. | |
Air Force spokesman Dwi Badarmanto told the BBC that the 122 passengers included 12 crew members. | |
The cause of the crash is not yet known, but witnesses said the plane appeared to run into trouble shortly after taking off from Medan - Indonesia's third largest city - for Tanjung Pinang, an island off Sumatra. | The cause of the crash is not yet known, but witnesses said the plane appeared to run into trouble shortly after taking off from Medan - Indonesia's third largest city - for Tanjung Pinang, an island off Sumatra. |
"It passed overhead a few times, really low," a witness named Elfrida Efi told the Reuters news agency. | "It passed overhead a few times, really low," a witness named Elfrida Efi told the Reuters news agency. |
"There was fire and black smoke. The third time it came by it crashed into the roof of the hotel and exploded straight away." | "There was fire and black smoke. The third time it came by it crashed into the roof of the hotel and exploded straight away." |
Air Force head Agus Supriatna said on Tuesday that the pilot had asked to return to base because of technical difficulties. | Air Force head Agus Supriatna said on Tuesday that the pilot had asked to return to base because of technical difficulties. |
"The plane crashed while it was turning right to return to the airport,'' he said. | "The plane crashed while it was turning right to return to the airport,'' he said. |
President Joko Widodo used Twitter to send his condolences to the families, wishing them "patience and strength". | President Joko Widodo used Twitter to send his condolences to the families, wishing them "patience and strength". |
History of crashes | History of crashes |
The Hercules transport plane was manufactured in 1964, but a military spokesman said he was convinced that it was in good condition. | The Hercules transport plane was manufactured in 1964, but a military spokesman said he was convinced that it was in good condition. |
This is the fourth crash involving the military in three years, says our correspondent, and many Indonesians are demanding an upgrade of its mostly outdated defence equipment. | |
It is also the second time in 10 years that a plane has crashed in Medan. | |
In September 2005, a Boeing 737 came down in a crowded residential area shortly after take-off from Medan's Polonia airport, killing 143 people including 30 on the ground. | In September 2005, a Boeing 737 came down in a crowded residential area shortly after take-off from Medan's Polonia airport, killing 143 people including 30 on the ground. |
Indonesian military aircraft crashes since 2009: |