Body Parts, Debris Found Day After Indonesian Plane Went Missing

the plane carrying police personnel had lost radio contact on Saturday.

Image used for representational purpose. (Photo: iStock)

Authorities have recovered body parts and debris in waters where an Indonesian plane carrying police personnel went missing, raising fears over the fate of the flight's passengers and crew.

The M28 Skytruck plane carrying 13 people lost contact with air traffic control on Saturday during a flight from Pangkal Pinang, Bangka Belitung province, to Batam in the Riau Islands province in western Indonesia.

Aeroplane seats and suitcases along with body parts have been recovered by fishermen off Riau Islands on Saturday afternoon, according to rescue officials.

We sent three body bags last night, the body parts were not intact... they are now in the Bhayangkara hospital in Batam.

Bambang Soelistyo, Head, Search and Rescue Agency

Search and rescue efforts will continue for another week.

Indonesia has a poor aviation safety record and has experienced several air disasters recently.

But Indonesia’s police insisted on Sunday that the plane was in good condition and the pilot was experienced.

It was carrying five crew members and eight passengers.

Last week, an Indonesian army helicopter crashed on Borneo island, leaving three crew members dead, while in November, a cargo plane crashed in Papua region killing four.

(With inputs from PTI)