Jakarta: An Indonesian military plane carrying more than 100 people crashed into several homes and burst into flames on Wednesday, killing at least 79 people, officials said.
Dozens were injured and more were feared dead, with local television flashing footage of fire engulfing the mangled wreckage.
Black smoke billowed in the air, as soldiers carried badly burnt bodies on stretchers to waiting ambulances.
Air force spokesman Bambang Sulistyo said at least 79 people were killed when the C-130 Hercules crashed near a base in East Java province early Wednesday.
There were 112 passengers and crew on board.
Military spokesman Sagom Tamboen said the aircraft was transporting troops and their families, including at least 10 children, when it tumbled from the sky near an air force base in East Java province.
It smashed into a row of houses in Geplak village, killing three on the ground, before skidding into a rice field.
The tail of the plane and several large parts of its charred body were scattered in the paddy and nearby bushes.
It was not clear what caused the crash, the latest in a string to hit the air force.
But several witnesses described hearing a large explosion while it was still in the air and then seeing it split apart.
Dozens were injured and more were feared dead, with local television flashing footage of fire engulfing the mangled wreckage.
Black smoke billowed in the air, as soldiers carried badly burnt bodies on stretchers to waiting ambulances.
There were 112 passengers and crew on board.
Advertisement
It smashed into a row of houses in Geplak village, killing three on the ground, before skidding into a rice field.
Advertisement
It was not clear what caused the crash, the latest in a string to hit the air force.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
8 Killed After Bus Carrying 47 Overturns In US State Of Mississippi: Report Official Reveals Why Chopper, Being Airlifted By MI-17, Crashed In Kedarnath Helicopter, Being Airlifted By MI-17 Chopper, Crashes In Kedarnath INDIA's "Hit With Footwear" Protest In Mumbai Over Shivaji Statue Collapse Celebrated "Russian Spy" Whale Hvaldimir Found Dead In Norway: Report "It's Mom, I Love You": Mother Of Israeli-American Found Dead In Gaza Video: Vadodara Animal Rescuers Tripling On Scooter - With A Crocodile Ukrainian Drones Target Oil Refinery, Power Plants In Moscow, Says Russia 2024 Royal Enfield Classic 350 Launched In India; Prices Start At Rs. 2 Lakh Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.