অ্যাকসেসিবিলিটি লিংক

Indonesian Military Plane Crashes, at Least 98 Dead


Indonesian officials say a military transport plane crashed into homes and burst into flames Wednesday near an air force base in East Java, killing at least 98 people and injuring more than 10 others.

A spokesman for the Indonesian air force said 15 people survived the crash, which occurred while the plane was preparing to land at the nearby air base. The spokesman said the Hercules C-130 plane was carrying more than 100 military personnel and their families, including at least 10 children.

At least two people on the ground were among those killed when the plane slammed into a village and skidded to a flaming halt in a nearby rice field.

Witnesses reported seeing parts of the plane falling from the sky and hearing explosions.

Indonesian television showed uniformed soldiers pulling bodies from smoldering debris. The plane's tail appeared to be the only section of the aircraft to remain intact.

Military officials say the plane was in good condition and the weather was clear before the crash. The plane was almost 30 years old.

Indonesia's military has complained that its budget is not sufficient to ensure planes receive minimum maintenance.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono denies military budget cuts are to blame and has summoned top military officials to a meeting Wednesday at the state palace in Jakarta.

The president also says he has been told the plane was airworthy and a thorough investigation into the accident will be carried out.

The crash is the second deadly air accident for the military since April. Last month, a military plane ran into a hangar killing 24 military personnel and crew.

Indonesia's commercial aircraft have also suffered deadly crashes in recent years.

The poor safety record led the European Union to ban Indonesian airlines from its airspace.

XS
SM
MD
LG