Indonesian plane with 54 aboard crashes in mountains

Jakarta, August 16: An Indonesian passenger airliner, reported missing earlier on Sunday with 54 people on board, was seen by local residents hit a mountain, authorities here said. “According to the (local) community, the Triga Air plane hit Mount Tangok in Pengunungan Bintang district,” Xinhua quoted Suprasetyo, director general of the air transport of the transport ministry, as saying in a press conference held at the ministry in Jakarta. The Triga Air Service ATR-42 flight left Sentani Airport in Papua region’s capital Jayapura at 2:22 p.m. and was scheduled to land in the southern town of Oksibil at about 3:16 p.m., officials said. The plane lost contact at about 2:55 p.m., Transportation Ministry spokesman J.A. Barata told CNN Indonesia. The aircraft was carrying 44 adults, five children and a five-member crew. “A search was launched earlier today, but was called off because of bad weather, and it’s also now dark there,” Barata added. Military officers, policemen and other search and rescue personnel in Papua province participated in the coordited search efforts, Transport Minister Igsius Jon said. “Tomorrow (Monday), (they) will take action as earlier as possible,” he told the press conference. “Tonight (Sunday night), those officials from the search and rescue office along with director general of the air transport will go there to help handle evacuation,” Jon said. (IANS)