"Based on information at 14.00 local time, the crash site is located at the coordinates 03 23.80 degrees northern latitude and 098.01.21 degrees eastern longitude," Rahmansyah, an NBA operations officer, said here Thursday.
He said that according to information from an air-borne observation team, the plane was still intact but the passengers` conditions were still unknown.
After the plane was reported missing, the airline had sent a joint search and rescue (SAR) team along with volunteers to reach the crash site which was believed to be located in part of the Bukit Barisan mountain range in Langkat district.
SAR workers and volunteers had combed some parts of the Bukit Barisan hills in Langkat District since 11 am but they had seen no signs of a plane wreckage in the forested area.
Angkasa Pura II spokesperson at Medan`s Polonia airport Firdaus said the missing Casa-218 plane departed from Polonia airport at 07.28 and was scheduled to arrive at Kutacane`s airport, Aceh, at 08.00.
Firdaus said air traffic control at Polonia airport had it lost contact with the plane carrying 18 people at 08.08 local time.
The people on board the plane included 12 adults, two children, two babies, the pilot and three crew.
According to the plane`s manifest the passengers were named Aisyah, Astuti, Suryaidi, Dian Afrihni, Suhelman, Yudi Dahtirna, Sirma Tan Gugun, Jefridan, Sirna Karsus ,Andi Raikan, Ahmad Arif, Samsidar, Haminah, and Hanif.
The plane`s crew consisted of Pamal (pilot), Budiono (co-pilot), Nicom and Sutopo (technicians). (*)
(T.SYS/B/A050/S012) 29-09-2011 19:39:16
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
