Wreckage of Missing Police Aircraft Found in Waters Off Batam
Jakarta. A police aircraft with at least 13 people on board, which had gone missing during a flight from Pangkal Pinang in Bangka Belitung to Batam in Riau Islands on Saturday morning (03/12), has reportedly crashed.
Three pilots, two flight engineers and eight police officers were on board the twin-engine M28 Skytruck, which was heading to Batam for a regular crew rotation before contact was lost at around 10.15 a.m.
Airport authorities and police have coordinated a search operation before fishermen reported seeing plane debris and body parts in the sea near Dabo Singkep in Riau Islands Province.
A search and rescue mission is currently underway.
The crewmembers on board were Comr. Adj. Budi Waluyo (pilot), Comr. Adj. Eka Barokah (pilot), Comr. Adj. Tonce (pilot), Brig. Joko Sujarwo (flight engineer) and Brig. Mustafa (flight engineer). Among the passengers were Comr. Adj. Abdul Munir, Comr. Adj. Safran, Chief Brig. Erwin, First Brig. Andi Z., Second Brig. Rizal, Brig. Suwarno and Brig. Joko Sungatno.
The crash is the latest of several incidents in recent months allegedly due to aging aircraft and a lack of proper maintenance.
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