by Benson Agoha | Asia
A Hercules C-130 plane has reportedly crashed into a residential area of Medan city in Sumatra Tuesday. At least 20 people are reported to have died, China's Xinhua News reports.
According to Indonesia's Air Forces Commander, Air Marshall Agus Supriatna, the crash was caused by "trouble" with the plane. It crashed at 12.14pm local time with 12 crew men on board.
Flames and thick smoke could be seen rising into the air at the scene as soldiers and fire-crew try to bring it under control.
"Sairi Saragih, a spokeswoman for the Adam Malik hospital in the city, was quoted by local media as saying that 20 bodies have been brought to the hospital so far." Xinhua reported
Reports said that the crash may claim tens of people's lives as the plane crashed in the city's dense populated neighborhood.
"The plane carried 12 crews consisted of three pilots, one navigator and eight technicians. The plane was in PAUM (Air Military Transport Flight) mission that carried logistic and military personnel transferred to other region," said Agus.
He said that prior to the crash, the pilot asked to return to base. "The plane experienced trouble before the crash. It can be proved from the pilot communication with officers at the airport tower control."
The 1964 build was operated by Squadron 32 Abdurrahman saleh in Malang, Easter Java according to Air Marshall Agus Supriatna.
The plane reportedly crashed only two minutes after it took off from Medan's old airport of Polonia, crashing into a housing compound in the Jl. Jamin Ginting area of the city, according to the report.
* by Benson Agoha (with contribution from Xinhua China News and Fox News).
* by Benson Agoha (with contribution from Xinhua China News and Fox News).
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