A helicopter spotted the shattered wreckage of a Russian-made passenger plane
Thursday that crashed into a steep cliff on a long-dormant Indonesian volcano
during a demonstration flight to potential buyers and journalists. There was no
sign of survivors among the 47 people on
board.
A view of the wreckage of the Russian Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft in Mount
Salak, West Java province, as seen from an Indonesia Airforce Super Puma
helicopter May 10, 2012
Family members, many of whom spent a long, sleepless night at the
airport, broke down in tears on hearing the news. Others stared blankly ahead in
disbelief.
"From the pictures we're seeing, it looks like it was a total loss," said Daryatmo, chief of the national search and rescue agency, as the first images flashed across local TV.
The Sukhoi Superjet-100, Russia's first new passenger jet since the fall of the Soviet Union two decades ago, was scattered on a steep near the top of Mount Salak, a volcano just 30 miles (50 kilometers) southwest of Jakarta. The company's blue-and-white logo peeked through the dense canopy of trees.
The location will hamper efforts to evacuate victims, said Gagah Prakoso, adding they will have to be pulled to a hovering helicopter by ropes and nets. The plane left Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in the capital Wednesday for a quick test flight aimed at impressing potential buyers.
Twenty-one minutes after takeoff, the crew asked for permission to decline from 10,000 feet to 6,000 feet (3,000 meters to 1,800 meters), said Daryatmo, chief of the national search and rescue agency.
The plane fell off the radar immediately afterward.
"From the pictures we're seeing, it looks like it was a total loss," said Daryatmo, chief of the national search and rescue agency, as the first images flashed across local TV.
The Sukhoi Superjet-100, Russia's first new passenger jet since the fall of the Soviet Union two decades ago, was scattered on a steep near the top of Mount Salak, a volcano just 30 miles (50 kilometers) southwest of Jakarta. The company's blue-and-white logo peeked through the dense canopy of trees.
The location will hamper efforts to evacuate victims, said Gagah Prakoso, adding they will have to be pulled to a hovering helicopter by ropes and nets. The plane left Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in the capital Wednesday for a quick test flight aimed at impressing potential buyers.
Twenty-one minutes after takeoff, the crew asked for permission to decline from 10,000 feet to 6,000 feet (3,000 meters to 1,800 meters), said Daryatmo, chief of the national search and rescue agency.
The plane fell off the radar immediately afterward.
File photo