Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team at the Medical and Health Center of the National Police Hospital has received 53 DNA samples from the families of victims of the Sriwijaya Air plane crash.

"As of 5 p.m. Western Indonesia time (WIB), the DVI team has received DNA samples from the families of the victims, totaling 53 DNA samples," spokesperson for the National Police Hospital, Brigadier General Pol Rusdi Hartono, said during a press conference in Jakarta on Monday.

He also informed that the DVI team had received 17 body bags from the Sriwijaya Air plane crash as of 5 p.m. Western Indonesia time (WIB) on Monday.

"As of this afternoon, we have received 17 body bags," Rusdi said.

The Sriwijaya Air flight SJ182 is believed to have crashed shortly after take-off in the waters between Laki Island and Lancang Island in Thousands Islands, or 11 nautical miles from the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang in suburban Jakarta.

The Transportation Ministry has confirmed that airport authorities lost contact with the flight serving the Jakarta-Pontianak route at approximately 2:40 p.m. on Saturday.

According to the ministry, the Boeing 737-500 jet, bearing the registration number PK CLC, made last contact at a position 11 nautical miles north of the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport after passing an altitude of 11,000 feet and while rising to 13,000 feet.

The plane took off from the Soekarno-Hatta Airport at 2:40 p.m. local time on Saturday, and was scheduled to land at the Supadio Airport in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, at 3:50 p.m.

Based on the manifest, the plane was carrying 50 passengers and 12 crew members. There were 40 adults, seven children, and three babies on board the flight. (INE)

Related news: Two body bags filled with parts of victims' bodies sent to hospital
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