deeta

From Yahoo!:

JAKARTA, Indonesia - An Indonesian jetliner crashed into a crowded residential neighborhood in the city of Medan shortly after takeoff Monday, killing all 117 on board and an unknown number on the ground, officials said.

The Mandala Airlines Boeing 737 was heading to Jakarta when it crashed one minute after takeoff and burst into flames, said Transport Minister Hatta Radjasa.

It was carrying at least 117 passengers and crew, said the airline's acting president, Maj. Gen. Hasril Hamzah Tanjung.

"They have all died," Edi Sofyan, a government spokesman in Medan, told The Associated Press by telephone. There were also casualties on the ground, he said, though he did not know how many.

Smoke billowed from the burning debris and dozens of houses and at least 10 cars were in flames or damaged. Hundreds of policemen, paramedics and residents were trying to evacuate victims.

Syahrial Anas, a doctor overseeing the removal of charred bodies, said flames were hampering their efforts. Officials said one of the dead included the governor of North Sumatra province, who was heading to the capital for a meeting with the president.

"We're having a hard time getting to the bodies, because of the heat," Anas told the AP.

Medan, the country's third largest city, has been a major staging point for tsunami relief operations in Aceh province, which occupies the northern tip of Sumatran island. The international airport is close to the center of town and is surrounded by densely populated residential areas.

Mandala Airlines is a Jakarta-based domestic carrier founded in 1969 by a military-run foundation. Its 15-plane fleet consists mainly of 1970s-vintage Boeing 737-200 jets. In recent years, the financially troubled airline has been forced to cut services and fares to remain competitive.

Tanjung said an investigation was being carried out into the cause of the crash.

The plane was nearly 25 years old, he said, and received its last comprehensive service in June. It had flown more than 50,000 hours and was due to be retired in 2016.

Monday's crash follows five major airline accidents in August, the deadliest month for plane disasters since May 2002. Some 334 people died in accidents in Peru, Venezuela, Greece and Tunisia last month. A plane also overshot a runway in Toronto and caught fire; no one died.

Indonesia's last crash involving a jetliner occurred in February 2005, when 26 people were killed when a plane operated by Lion Air, a low-cost carrier, skidded off the runway on Java Island, killing 26 people.

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Some of the victims are the Governor of North Sumatra along with his wife, sibling, bodyguards and also a former Governor of the said province. Until now, there has been no news that they were all saved.


ETA: Also a more recent one: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050905...h_050905064718

Lain

It's definintly a bad month to be flying

With that kind of fire that had to be dealt with, it's highly unlikely anyone involved has made it out alive.

-Kelly-

That's awful

Sofa

Seriously...

iblazed

What's going on with flying in other countries. There was something like 5 plane crashes outside the usa in August. It doesn't seem that they get the plane checked out by a mechanic as often as they do in usa.

86amanda86

I'm not exactly afraid of flying, but the thought of being in a plane with no way out if something goes wrong terrifies me. I think that when you buy a ticket it should come with a "parchute option."

....


No seriously.

iblazed

I would be more at ease flying if there was parchute's under every seat. They should give a few tips on how to use it before take off. If the plane was really going down I think the panic on the plane would prevent anyone from jumping out but at least the fact that there their to use would make us feel good about flying.
To the airlines it would be a one-time purchase.

86amanda86

Yeah that would be so nice. They could add that to their, "in case of an emergency your seat turns into a life preserver" speach...

Lain

Hey...I wanted a parachute with my flight package. What if we got into turbulence? Well, as long as we're over some sort of land. No point if you're over water unless if a cruise ship comes to save you.

86amanda86

yeah, unless they can make it so thebackback doubles as a lifeboat....

Lain

I mean, hell, we're already putting a lot for glamorous interior desigining, food, seats, magazines, movies, and even engines. Airlines can afford a parachutes can they?!?