Russian airliner disappears over Indonesia
The jet, a Sukhoi Superjet-100, was on a demonstration flight.
May 9th, 2012
07:34 AM ET

Russian airliner disappears over Indonesia

[Updated at 7:34 a.m. ET] Transportation Ministry spokesman Bambang Ervan told Metro TV the Sukhoi jet went missing at about 2 p.m. local time in the area of Bogor, West Java.

The jet was on a demonstration flight that should've lasted 30 minutes, taking off and expected to land again in Jakarta's Halim airport. About 46 people were onboard he said.

National Search and Rescue Agency official Gagah Prakosa said on Metro TV that there was an initial search by air that's been suspended because of darkness. A ground search continues.

[Updated at 7:24 a.m. ET] Russia's newest civilian airliner disappeared Wednesday from radar screens during a demonstration flight in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, state-run Ria Novosti news service reported. There were 44 passengers on board.

The pilots requested permission to descend from 10,000 feet to 6,000 feet, air traffic controllers said. After that, all radio contact was lost.

The plane began making its descent but vanished from radar screens at 6,200 feet in a mountainous area.

By the time the plane was due to return it should have burned up its fuel, RIA Novosti said.

The Sukhoi Superjet-100 airplane arrived in Jakarta as part of a demonstration tour of six Asian countries. It had been to Myanmar, Pakistan and Kazakhstan, and was due to visit Laos and Vietnam after Indonesia, RIA Novosti said.
Sukhoi manufactures military aircraft and is known especially for its fighter jets. Its civilian aircraft is narrow-bodied with a dual-class cabin that can transport 100 passengers over regional routes.

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Filed under: Aviation • Indonesia
soundoff (38 Responses)
  1. PEDO BEAR

    Da Plane! Da Plane!

    May 9, 2012 at 8:00 am | Report abuse |
  2. dPLAY

    Sounds so fishy,Mmmmmmm....

    May 9, 2012 at 8:01 am | Report abuse |
  3. Protoman

    At least it wasn't shot down over Russian airspace with only one person aboard. (RIP Congressman Larry McDonald)

    May 9, 2012 at 8:34 am | Report abuse |
  4. Tomcat

    I also remember that KAL flight shot-down over Russian airspace. Had that flight safely landed, and congressman Larry McDonald had survived the ordeal to actually appear in LA District Court to testify against then gov. Ronald Reagan, there never would have been a president named Ronald.

    May 9, 2012 at 8:38 am | Report abuse |
  5. Mr. Triglyceride

    @Protoman/Tomcat. I was living in LA when the LA Herald Examiner reported exactly what you say. What happened next? The Herald Examiner also ceased to exist. And only one other news outlet (Hustler Magazine) continued reporting on this tragic murder of a US congressman. Up until that magazines publisher, Larry Flynt, was shot and placed under a federal gag order just like Connie Chung and the FBI's Sibel D. Edmonds.
    Freedom my ass.

    May 9, 2012 at 8:46 am | Report abuse |
  6. Jack

    So it begins!

    May 9, 2012 at 8:46 am | Report abuse |
  7. Mr. Triglyceride

    Lets see how many of you "news" bloggers deny this fact: Congressman Larry McDonald was murdered by Ronald Reagan.

    May 9, 2012 at 8:50 am | Report abuse |
  8. Tomcat

    @Mr. Tri. You were living in LA back then? I was living in Texas when I (ahem) just happened to read Larry Flynt's expose'. After researching for many many hours, I finally reached this conclusion: The world's powerful governments, incl. and especially the US and Russia, are all on the same page while keeping us peoples divided. Those hundreds of huge underground facilities built during the "Cold War" by these two mighty governments were built in tandem, in other words. At least they didn't enslave Jews to dig them this time

    May 9, 2012 at 9:07 am | Report abuse |
    • mickey1313

      Anyone who thinks any government has there best interests in mind is a fool.

      May 9, 2012 at 10:58 am | Report abuse |
  9. I Steal Other People's Names

    If it was anywhere near the Bermuda Triangle, it wouldn't be such a big deal.

    May 9, 2012 at 9:08 am | Report abuse |
  10. Natdrive

    We have to go back!!

    May 9, 2012 at 9:16 am | Report abuse |
  11. I Steal Other People's Names

    You're talking to yourself, again. God, take a vacation from it!

    May 9, 2012 at 9:20 am | Report abuse |
  12. Pete

    Ya know what the problem is .The loan company that lent them money hasn't got paid,so ya know what,they repoed it,that's why it didn't return.It's on some used repo lot somewhere with a sale sign on the windshield.Going cheap I heard!!!LMAO!!!!

    May 9, 2012 at 9:33 am | Report abuse |
  13. Jones

    Langoliers?

    May 9, 2012 at 11:14 am | Report abuse |
    • Beverado

      It had to be said.

      May 9, 2012 at 3:46 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Moral Relativist

    Did they inspect for Arabs wearing underwear?

    May 9, 2012 at 12:15 pm | Report abuse |
  15. krm1007

    Our deepest condolences to the families of those who died. RIP.

    May 10, 2012 at 2:51 pm | Report abuse |
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