11 hurt in plane crash

SEMARANG (JP): A small passenger aircraft owned by Air Deraya Service crashed into a residential area yesterday injuring at least 11 passengers and local residents. No casualties were reported.

Sgt. Sukim of Semarang police precinct told The Jakarta Post that the Cessna 402, flight number PK BBI, crashed at 3:49 p.m. while in transit from Pontianak, West Kalimantan, en route to Surabaya, East Java.

The aircraft carried five passengers and two crew members -- pilot Kuntardi, 36, and mechanic Fadjri, 36 -- all of whom were slightly injured.

The plane crashed into a residential area of Karangsari village, West Semarang, damaging five houses. Four residents were injured in the crash.

According to Antara, the plane crashed after it was in a holding pattern above Ahmad Yani Airport as it waited for the arrival of a plane carrying Police Chief Gen. Dibyo Widodo.

According to Semarang Police, two of the injured passengers were children -- Drian Pamuji, 4, and Romadhon Gita Sambora, 7 months old. (har/25/05)