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147 killed as plane crashes in Indonesia

Flight started shaking violently before plunging into a crowded neighbourhood

MEDAN (INDONESIA): The Boeing 737-200 shook violently seconds after take-off, veered to the left and slammed onto a busy street in Indonesia's third-largest city, bursting into flames. At least 147 persons died, many of them on the ground. But up to 16 passengers survived, including an 18-month-old boy shielded in his mother's arms, officials said.

The Mandala Airlines plane crashed 500 yards from the Medan airport in north Sumatra, shoving aside cars and motorcycles before ploughing into a row of houses. Witnesses said some persons were on fire as they fled the aircraft's shattered wreckage.

Investigators were trying to determine the cause of the jetliner crash, Indonesia's second in nine months and the sixth worldwide since Aug. 1.

Foul play unlikely

Foul play was highly unlikely, said airline's Managing Director Asril Tanjung, adding that human error or technical failure may have been to blame.

Thousands gathered to watch, some standing on rooftops and buses, as firefighters struggled in a light drizzle to put out the blaze, which sent thick black smoke high into the air. Several houses and dozens of cars and motorcycles also were engulfed in flames.

Survivors said the Jakarta-bound plane started shaking violently when it reached an altitude of about 100 yards before tilting sharply and smashing to the ground. Some described a loud bang while the plane was still in flight, followed by a ball of fire. ``It happened very fast, no one even had time to panic,'' Rohadi Kamsah Sitepu, told the Associated Press from his hospital bed. ``There was an explosion outside the plane followed by huge flames inside the cabin. Then we crashed''.

``I struggled to take off my seat belt and then ran through a hole in the fuselage, jumping over charred bodies scattered all over the road,'' said Mr. Sitepu, who escaped with minor bruises to his legs.

``It's a miracle I survived. I can't believe it.''

The plane was carrying 116 passengers and crew, airline officials said. Sixteen survived, including an 18-month-old boy and his mother, said Nining, a Mandala spokeswoman, who like many Indonesians goes by only one name. Medan police chief Col. Irawan Dahlan put the number of survivors from the plane at 15, and Transportation Minister Hatta Rajasa said there were 10.

Mr. Rajasa was quoted by the private Detik.com news Web site as saying 47 persons on the ground were among the dead. City hospitals also were treating at least a dozen residents.

One of the passengers who escaped death, Rohadi Sitepu, said all the survivors were seated at the back of the plane. ``It was very, very scary. Unimaginable,'' he told Metro TV station from his hospital bed.

``The plane was taking off, but suddenly there was a strong tremor and it jerked to the left and crashed. There was fire everywhere, from the front of the plane to the back.'' — AP

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