Indonesian Flight Carrying 188 Passengers Crashes Minutes After Take-Off

A plane with more than 180 people on board has crashed off the coast of Indonesia.

The Lion Air flight JT-610 was heading towards Pangkal Pinang, a town on the Bangka Belitung Islands just north of the capital city of Jakarta, where the aircraft had originally taken off. However, it came into difficulty shortly after take off and lost contact with ground control.

It is understood the plane was carrying 188 passengers and crashed just 13 minutes after take off, at 6.30am local time.

According to the BBC, the plane's pilots had requested to return to the airport, the head of Pangkal Pinang's search and rescue office, Danang Priandoko, told local news outlet Kompas.

The flight then disappeared from the radar shortly after.

The plane was a Boeing 737 MAX 8, a brand new aircraft and the cause of the crash has not been confirmed.

Reports say no survivors have, as yet, been found.

Search and Rescue Agency spokesman Yusuf Latif told AFP news agency: "The plane crashed into water about 30m to 40m deep. We're still searching for the remains of the plane."

The head of Indonesia's disaster agency, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, has been sharing photographs from the crash site, which appear to show pieces of wreckage and items belonging to the passengers, which have been pulled from the sea.

According to Sky News, Indonesian media have been reporting 'images of bodies and ID cards belonging to passengers' being retrieved from the water.

PA

And relatives of passengers on-board the plane have gone to Soekarno Hatta International airport, near Jakarta, to wait for more information on their loved ones.

Aircraft giant Boeing have sent their condolences for the tragic incident.

A spokesperson said: "The Boeing Company is deeply saddened by the loss of Flight JT 610. We express our concern for those on board, and extend heartfelt sympathies to their families and loved ones."

Lion Air has confirmed the flight was commanded by Captain. Bhavye Suneja and co-pilot Harvino, along with six cabin crew Shintia Melina, Citra Noivita Anggelia, Alviani Hidayatul Solikha, Damayanti Simarmata, Mery Yulianda, and Deny Maula.

Topics: international news

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

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