Missing Sukhoi Superjet 100 Still Being Traced

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Search for commercial aircraft Sukhoi Superjet 100 that was lost from radar monitoring on Wednesday is still ongoing, Indonesian Air Force head of public information sub-division Col. Agung Sasongko said.

The plane took off at 2.30pm from the Halim Perdanakusumah airport but then it was out of radar monitoring, he said.

"I do not know exactly the latest developments but according to data that I received there are 46 passengers on board," he told ANTARA.

He said the Russian-made plane was on a civilian mission to introduce its performance to the people of Indonesia when it went out of radar monitoring.

The plane had received a permit for conducting a joy flight for journalists and national aviation businessmen.

"As far as I know the majority of passengers aboard the plane for a second joy flight in the afternoon are journalists. According to our record two journalists are from Angkasa magazine namely Doddy Aviantara and photographer Didik N Yusuf," he said.

The 100 Sukhoi is the first commercial jet produced by Sukhoi and has received Federation Aviation Association from the US two years ago.

The plane is of the same class with Boeing 737-400 series and has been relied on by Sukhoi for the Asia Pacific market which grows 11 percent a year.

In Indonesia one of the airline companies that has openly expressed its interest to buy the plane is Lorena Air.(*/T007)