Indonesian rescuers Thursday intensified a search for a missing Russian Sukhoi Superjet with about 50 people on board that disappeared in mountainous terrain during a demonstration flight. All aboard were Indonesian aviation and airline representatives, except for eight Russians -- four of them crew and four of them Sukhoi employees -- plus an American and one French national, the flight organiser said.
The plane vanished from radar screens south of the capital Jakarta 50 minutes into what was meant to be a short flight on Wednesday and initial efforts to locate the jet proved fruitless.
The Superjet 100, a new passenger aircraft, is crucial to Russia's hopes of becoming a major player in the modern aviation market, and a major accident would be the first disaster to involve the type.
Shortly after dawn on Thursday a team of 40 rescuers headed towards Salak mountain, where the plane went missing, an AFP reporter said.
Two helicopters also joined the search, but officials said thick fog hampered visibility.
"So far we still have not found the plane. I cannot confirm but there is a possibility that it could have crashed," said Ketut Parwa, the capital's search and rescue agency chief, who was coordinating operations.
"If it had made an emergency landing we should have received some news via the radio or phone calls by passengers by now," he told AFP.
Juanda, a 41-year old villager who goes by one name, said he was feeding his chickens when he heard a roar overhead.
"I looked up and saw a huge white plane moving unsteadily just slightly below the mountain summit. It was still way above the trees but veering left and right, and then it disappeared," he told AFP by telephone from Tenjolaya district, near Salak.
"I heard a sound like firecrackers, but I couldn't see it anymore."
Two helicopters searching for the plane Wednesday evening were forced to turn back due to strong winds and bad weather.
By midnight Wednesday, hundreds of rescuers had set up three posts around the mountain as they prepared for search and rescue operations.
"We fear it might have crashed in a jungly area 2,000 metres (6,500 feet) above sea level near Kawah Ratu," a crater on Salak's slopes, Parwa added.
Ahmad Rifai, who arrived at the Cidahu rescue base seeking news of his sister, a 30-year-old stewardess who had stood in for a colleague who was supposed to have been on board, broke down as he contemplated her fate.
"Why are rescuers so slow? Why didn't they start searching for it quickly?" complained Rifai, 48. "If they had been quick, maybe my sister would still be..." he trailed off in mid-sentence.
Yudistira Alex, 43, who had several friends on board, arrived at Cidahu late Wednesday.
"They're four of my best childhood friends. We are inseparable like brothers," he muttered between sobs. "I don't know who to blame, maybe this is fate."
There were scenes of grief at the airport in Jakarta late Wednesday, with relatives of passengers sitting on luggage carousels weeping uncontrollably, waiting for information.
Reports of the number on board varied, with local rescue officials saying the plane was carrying 46 people and Trimarga Rekatama, the company responsible for inviting the passengers, saying 50 were on board including one US national.
A list of 36 passengers posted at Halim airport showed one Western name, and a representative of French aircraft engine maker SNECMA. The French embassy in Jakarta confirmed there was one Frenchman on board.
Herry Bakti, head of the aviation division of Indonesia's transport ministry, said the Superjet was on the second of two demonstration flights, and those on board were invited guests.
Russia's RIA Novosti news agency named the captain as Alexander Yablontsev, 57, a veteran pilot.
The twin-engine Superjet is a joint venture between Sukhoi and Italy's Alenia Aeronautica and made its first commercial flight last year.
So far it is being flown by two airlines, Russia's Aeroflot and Armenia's Armavia, but orders have been confirmed with more, including Indonesia's Kartika Airlines and Sky Aviation, state-run news agency Antara reported.
The demonstration flight in Indonesia was part of an Asian tour to promote the aircraft. Tweet Bookmark Print Badge the Comments! Give badges to the best comments you see! You will get four badges a day 0 Comments To have full access to the interactive features available in Haveeru Online please register or sign in. or Post a Comment Loading comments... Please wait
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