All news

Sukhoi Superject 100 can be in jungle at Salak Mountain

The plane can crash in the jungle at the height of 2,000 metres above the level of the sea near the Kawah Ratu crater

BANGKOK, May 10 (Itar-Tass) — Russia’s Sukhoi Superjet 100 can be in the jungle on the Salak Mountain side, at the height of 2,000 metres above the level of the sea near the Kawah Ratu crater, head of the local search and rescue agency Ketut Parwa said on Thursday.

“The plane can crash in the jungle at the height of 2,000 metres above the level of the sea near the Kawah Ratu crater,” Parwa said.

At present, at dawn rescuers will intensify the rescue operation of the missing Russian airliner. Parwa confirmed that three rescue camps had been set up near the Salak Mountain. Rescuers overcame 7,500 kilometres to reach the Salak Mountain. Now they have to climb the mountain wall. Five helicopters should join the rescue operation shortly. On Wednesday, May 9, three helicopters took part in the rescue operation. They had to return due to the bad weather: the strong wind, the heavy fog and the rain prevented rescuers from continuing the operation.

“We failed to find the plane. I cannot say exactly, but it is very probable that the airliner crashed.” “If the airliner made an emergency landing, we would receive information from pilots by radio or from passengers by mobiles,” Parwa said.

According to the United Aircraft-Building Corporation, on May 9, the Sukhoi Superjet 100 plane made a flight demonstration within the air show in Indonesia. The first flight was normal. According to information from Indonesia, communication with the jet was lost 20 minutes after the flight.

Itar-Tass reports the crewmembers involve chief pilot Alexander Yablontsev, assisted captain Alexander Kochetkov, air navigator Oleg Shvetsov. In addition, engineer Alexei Kirkin and air flight test engineer Denis Rakhimov were aboard the plane. The flight demonstration also involved three employees of Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company – Nikolai Martyshchenko, Yevgeny Grebenshchikov and Kristina Kurzhukova.

Reports on passengers aboard the jet are different. According to local airlines, a total of 50 people were aboard the plane, including eight Russian citizens, two Italians, one French and one U.S. citizen, and 38 Indonesian citizens. Press attach· of the Russian Embassy in Jakarta Dmitry Solodov said, “A total of 44 people are aboard the jet. Among them are eight Russians and 36 Indonesian citizens.” “Foreign citizens are representatives of Indonesian companies and local mass media,” the diplomat added.