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EMERCOM rescuers fly to Indonesia to take part in search operation

The plane carries 42 people, including rescues, a group of medics and psychologists, necessary equipment
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, May 11 (Itar-Tass) — Rescuers from the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations are on their way to Indonesia to take part in the search-and-rescue operation at the site where a Russian-made Sukhoi Superjet passenger plane crashed on Wednesday.

According to updated reports, 12 dead bodies have already been found at the site. “An Il-76 plane of the emergencies ministry took off from the Ramenskoye airfield outside Moscow to Jakarta at 13:45 Moscow time,” sources from the ministry’s information department told Tass.

The plane carries 42 people, including rescues, a group of medics and psychologists, necessary equipment and a search helicopter, they added.

All rescuers flying to Indonesia are trained as mountain-climbers and have special equipment. Ministry sources specified that they will take part in the search for flight recorders of the crashed plane among other tasks. A Bo-105 helicopter will be airlifted to Indonesia, and it will be used in search work. It will be ready to fly to the scene half-an-hour after the arrival.

Earlier, EMERCOM spokeswoman Irina Andrianova said that another plane of the emergencies ministry is scheduled to fly to Jakarta on Friday.

A Russian-made Sukhoi Superjet 100 airliner crashed into Mount Salak on Wednesday during a demonstration flight in Indonesia. Indonesian rescuers work at the site of the crash. There were 45 people on board the ill-fated plane.