Jakarta -
A Russian Sukhoi Superjet 100 with up to 48 people on board went missing in Indonesia on Wednesday, officials said.
The aircraft was in Indonesia as part of a demonstration tour of six Asian countries, and representatives of local airlines were on board, said Herry Bakti Singoyudha, the director general of civil aviation at the Transport Ministry.
“We're still looking for it,” he said. “We don't know what happened.”
The crew of the plane had asked for permission to descend from 10,000 feet to 6,000 feet before disappearing from the radar in the area of Mount Salak in Bogor near Jakarta, officials said.
Hundreds of rescuers, including police and soldiers, were searching for the aircraft around the 2 200-metre volcano, said the head of the National Search and Rescue Agency, Air Vice Marshal Daryatmo.
Two helicopters sent to the area had to return because of dense clouds and strong winds, he said, adding that the search by air would continue Thursday,
Local television channel Trans TV said a cameraman and reporter were on the flight.
“We have not been able to contact them,” Trans TV chief editor Gatot Triyanto was quoted as saying by the detik.com news website.
The commander of Jakarta's Halim Air Force base, Adang Surpiyadi, said that 40 Indonesians and eight Russian crew members were on the plane.
“They did two demonstration flights,” he said. “The second took off at 2:21 pm (0721 GMT) but then there was information it lost contact at 2:33.” - Sapa-dpa