12 feared killed in plane crash in Indonesia

Twelve people were feared killed when an Indonesian police plane crashed in the country’s Riau Islands province on Saturday, a media report said.

The plane, belonging to the police department, had left Pangkal Pinang, Bangka Island, for Batam, Riau Islands, before it crashed into the waters this morning, the Jakarta Post reported.

“An explosion was heard before the plane crash. Pieces of chairs and bodies were found by residents,” Tanjung Pinang naval base commander First Adm S Irawan said.

Irawan said the Navy had deployed three warships and three patrol boats for rescue efforts.

“We are deploying a ship for an evacuation,” National Search and Rescue Agency’s Riau Islands head Abdul Hamid said.

No further details were available.