"Until 1pm we have not been able to locate the Casa-218," a staff member of the Search and Rescue service here, Iskandar, said to ANTARA.
SAR workers and volunteers have combed some parts of the Bukit Barisan hills in Langkat District since 11am but they have seen no signs of plane wreckage in the jungle area.
"We along with local community members keep searching at the hilly region in Langkat," he said.
The public relations manager of airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II of Polonia Medan airport, Firdaus, said the plane departed from the airport at 7.28am and was expected to arrive at Kutacane at 8am.
But, before 8am the traffic controller at Polonia lost contact with the plane. "We do not know where the plane is. Efforts are still being made in several areas to locate it," he said.
The passengers include two children, two babies, pilot and three crew. The plane is operated by Nusantara Buana Air.(*)
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
