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Indonesian military plane crashes in Medan neighbourhood

This article is more than 12 months old

UPDATE (3.30pm):

At least 30 people are dead after an Indonesian military plane crashed into a hotel and residential area on Tuesday (June 30).

According to Hisar Tunip, the head of the national search and rescue agency official (Basarnas) said that the number of dead could go up.


Indonesian media reports say an Indonesian military plane has crashed into a neighbourhood in Medan City, North Sumatra.

The incident happened at 12pm Indonesian time (1pm Singapore time), Metro TV News reported.

 

CREDIT: YOUTUBE/ CHRIS BRIGHT

While the number of casualties remain unknown, Xinhua said the Indonesian military confirmed that one of its Hercules C-130 has crashed.

Images shared on social media shows the crash and horrifying damage in the affected area.

Witness Rizal Martin Siregar told Metro TV News that the crash happened soon after the plane took off from the runway.

 

The crash set residential buildings in the area ablaze. PHOTO: TWITTER/ METRO TV

He reportedly said: "The plane flew lower and tilted to the left, then was no longer visible about two minutes later."

Twelve crew members were on board the plane, AP reported Indonesian Air Force operations commander Agus Dwi Putranto as saying on local TV.

The number of passengers on board as yet remains unknown. 

Al-Jazeera correspondent Stephanie Dekker tweeted that the pilots had asked to return to base after take-off as something was wrong with the plane.

After the plane turned around, it crashed, Dekker said. 

The plane was heading to the remote Natuna Islands, military spokesman Fuad Basya told Reuters.

People ran towards the scene of the crash this afternoon. PHOTO: TWITTER/ METRO TV

Sources: Metro TV News, Xinhua, RT

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