Air crash death toll rises to 29
Air crash death toll rises to 29
JAKARTA (JP): The death toll from Thursday's aircraft crash
near Bandung rose to 29 yesterday evening when a passenger,
Yeshi, died in hospital here.
Sempati Air emergency center coordinator Adi Agung said his
company had arranged to send Yeshi's body back to her hometown of
Padang, West Sumatra.
Earlier the center reported that 28 people, five crew and 23
passengers, of the 50 people on board had died.
Twenty passengers are being treated for injuries in hospitals
in Bandung.
Two foreigners, Malaysian businessman Jacky Panghong and
Singaporean Johny Koh Eng Kwee, survived the accident but are
being treated for serious injuries. Panghong is being treated at
the Immanuel hospital while Eng Kwee is at the Barromeus
hospital.
The Fokker-27 aircraft, flight number SG 304, piloted by Capt.
FX Bambang Rudi Santosa, crashed five minutes after taking off
from the Husein Sastranegara airport in Bandung.
The plane was leased by Sempati Air from Trigana Air Service.
The cause of the accident has not been determined.
Sempati Air's director, Santun Nainggolan, told the victim's
families that the company was "taking all responsibilities
concerning the incident".
He said the company would cover all expenses for all
necessary matters. "With or without insurance, we will be
responsible," he said.
A spokesperson of the state-owned insurance company PT Jasa
Raharja, Nina M. Katrina, said her company would pay all
insurance claims as soon as possible.
"The beneficiaries of those who died will receive up to Rp 40
million (US$17,000) each, while those hospitalized will receive
up to Rp 20 million and those who are disabled will receive Rp 40
million," Nina was quoted by Antara as saying.
Officials said an investigation was underway to determine the
cause of the accident.
Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto said after
visiting the crash site that the pilot had signaled that he
wanted to "return to base" because an engine had stopped.
Haryanto said it appeared that the pilot had attempted to make
an emergency landing at an Air Force base about five kilometers
from the crash site. (aan)