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)