Merpati plane in forced landing

Merpati plane in forced landing

AMBON, Maluku: A small Merpati plane made an emergency landing on Thursday in an open field on Wetan island, some 450 kilometers south of Ambon, Maluku, a company official said.

All 18 passengers, including three crew members, survived the accident, which took place at 3:10 p.m. local time, said Merpati Corporate Secretary Imam Turidy in Jakarta.

He said the Cassa-212 airline, manufactured by state-owned aircraft company PT Dirgantara Indonesia in cooperation with Spain Cassa, left Ambon at midday and was scheduled to arrive in Saumlaki in Yamdena island at 2:25 p.m.

"But the plane was recorded as 'lost' at 2:40 p.m. and made an emergency landing at 3:10 p.m.," he added.

He did not say whether the ill-fated aircraft's engine stopped working or not. Nor would he say what had caused the accident. --Antara