Indonesian plane crashes, at least 68 dead

Source: AP

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — At least 68 people are dead following the crash of a military plane on the Indonesian island of Java.

Air force official Suyono says he expects the death toll to rise following Wednesday morning's crash. Suyono goes by only one name.

Air force spokesman Bambang Sulistyo said the C-130 Hercules was carrying at least 112 passengers and crew. It was on a routine training mission when it crashed near the base in East Java province, smashing into houses and then skidding into a rice field and bursting into flames.

Indonesian television flashed footage of fire engulfing the wreckage and soldiers carrying bodies on stretchers.

Witnesses said many of the victims were badly burned.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gAThlqb3NvosVPPGykBLw4PTiPcAD989MUL80

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Indonesia plane carrying over 100 crashes: air force

JAKARTA (Reuters) - An Indonesian military transport plane carrying 13 crew and about 96 passengers has crashed in Madiun in East Java, an air force spokesman said on Wednesday.

The number of casualties was unclear, said air force spokesman Bambang Soelistyo, but a local official told Metro TV the plane had crashed into several houses and at least two people on the ground had died. "It's completely destroyed. only the tail was left," subdistrict head Wardi, who like many Indonesians uses only one name, told Metro TV.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/19/AR2009051903705.html?hpid=moreheadlines

JAKARTA (Reuters) - An Indonesian military transport plane carrying 110 people crashed and burst into flames in East Java on Wednesday, killing at least 78 people, an air force official said.

The C-130 Hercules aircraft plowed into several houses on the ground, scattering debris and sending flames and billowing smoke into the air, TV footage showed. "The last data we have is that 78 people died and there are 15 survivors," air force spokesman Bambang Soelistyo told Reuters, adding that rescuers were still trying to evacuate more victims.

"The air force will form a team to investigate the accident," he added. Soelistyo said there had been 11 crew and 99 passengers on board the aircraft, including air force personnel and civilian family members.

National military spokesman Sagom Tamboen told a news conference that the plane had been in good condition and the weather was clear before the crash. The official put the death toll at 57 from the plane and two on the ground. He said there had been 11 crew and 98 passengers, including 10 children.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE54J0WC20090520

ETA:

Soelistyo & Tamboen's numbers don't match. The details should become clearer over time, I guess.