Indonesian Air Force Plane Crashes Into Jakarta Housing Complex

Indonesian air force plane crashes into Jakarta housing complex < br />

2012-06-22 07:48:59 GMT+7 (ICT)

JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) -- An Indonesian Air Force plane crashed into a housing complex near a military base in the capital Jakarta on Thursday afternoon, killing all seven people on board the aircraft and three people on the ground, officials said.

The accident happened at around 2:45 p.m. local time when the Fokker 27 turboprop aircraft crashed into the Rajawali housing complex near the Halim Perdanakusuma airbase in East Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. The aircraft was carrying seven people and was preparing to land at the base.

"On behalf of myself and the government, I offer condolences over this tragedy and may God give fortitude to all families of the dead victims," Indonesian Vice President Boediono said during a press conference, as quoted by the Antara news agency. "At present a team of the Air Force is carrying out an investigation into the cause of the accident."

The military aircraft was on a routine training flight when it crashed into the military housing complex, sparking a large blaze at the scene. Amateur footage from the scene showed a number of houses which were completely destroyed by the aircraft, while other houses and vehicles were burnt down.

Six of the seven crew members were killed at the scene of the crash while the plane's co-pilot, identified as First Lieutenant Paulus Adi, died hours later at a military hospital nearby. The victims on the ground were identified as 6-year-old Brian and 2-year-old Naflin, the son and nephew of Air Force member Major Yohannes. The maid of Yohannes was also killed.

The cause of the accident was not immediately known, but air force officials said the aircraft was believed to be airworthy and had undergone maintenance as scheduled. The aircraft was reportedly built in 1958 and had been used by Indonesia's air force for more than 35 years.

It is the second time in a short period that a plane has crashed in the region. All 45 people on board a Russian-made Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft were killed on May 9 when it crashed into Mount Salak in West Java, shortly after departing Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2012-06-22