Russian Superjet Crashed Into Mountainside – Indonesian TV
By Ria Novosti
The Russian-made Sukhoi Superjet 100 that went down in Indonesia on Wednesday slammed into a steep mountainside outside the capital Jakarta, Indonesian television reported.
Pictures broadcast on television showed what is believed to be debris from the Superjet at the crash site on a very steep slope near Mount Salak. Other debris from the plane tumbled down the mountain.
Only small pieces of debris were visible in pictures from the Indonesian aviation authorities shown to journalists.
The plane apparently almost made it over the mountain. The crash site, located at an estimated altitute of 5,200 feet, is just a few dozen meters below the top of the ridgeline at that spot.
The Indonesian aviation authorities have established a field headquarters near the crash site and a search for the flight recorders and debris from the plane is underway.
The jet disappeared from radar screens during a demonstration flight near Jakarta on Wednesday. There were 48 people on board, including eight Russian crewmembers and 40 passengers, mainly Indonesians.
