A Russian Sukhoi Superjet 100 with up to 48 people on board went missing in Indonesia on Wednesday, according to Indonesia’s civil aviation chief.
The Russian aircraft was in Indonesia as part of a demonstration tour of six Asian countries, and representatives of local airlines were on board, said Herry Bakti Singoyudha, the Director-General of Civil Aviation at the Transport Ministry.
“We’re still looking for it,” he said. “We don’t know what happened.” The crew of the plane had asked for permission to descend before disappearing from the radar in the area of Mount Salak in Bogor near Jakarta, Mr. Singoyudha said.
Local television channel Trans TV said a cameraman and reporter were on the flight.
“We have not been able to contact them,” Trans TV chief editor Gatot Triyanto was quoted as saying by the detik.com news website.
The commander of Jakarta’s Halim Air Force base, Adang Surpiyadi, said that 40 Indonesians and eight Russian crew members were on the plane.
“They did two demonstration flights,” he said. “The second took off at 2.21 (12.51 p.m. IST) but then there was information it lost contact at 2.33.” No Air Force official was on board, he said.
