Tanjungpinang, Riau (ANTARA News) - A local cargo air carrier, the 212 Sabang Merauke Airlines Cargo (SMAC), crashed in a forest at Malang Rapat, Bintan district, Riau isles on Saturday at around 1.30 pm local time.

The plane itself was found devastated stuck in a large mud puddle, and the search and rescue team has managed to evacuate one casualty from the tragedy, a poor passenger Suroto.

"The plane was previously flying in a circle above the Malang Rapat village and eventually crashed," said a villager who witnesses the incident, Aswir.

Three other victims who were also on board the cargo plane had also found strangulated inside the plan wreck.

These three other victims are namely the plane`s pilot Fadlul Karim, crew Syahul Nasution and Susanto.

Based on the Indonesian air force officer`s statement, the plane was departed from Batam at 1.17 western Indonesian times, and then finally reported to crash at Tanjung Berakit sub-province at 1.30 located at coordinate 010 radial 15 miles.(*)


Editor: Ruslan Burhani
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