Air Force Hercules Crashes in Wawena

Jayapura, Papua ( Antara) - Indonesian aircraft Hercules A-1334 Navex 32 crashed in Jayawijaya, Papua, Sunday morning.

The spokesman of the regional XVII/Cenderawasih military command, Colonel Teguh PR confirmed the incident  saying "at around 8am East Indonesia Time we received information from the airforce base in Wamena that at around 06.09 it lost contact with Hercules A-1334 Navex 32 belonging to the Air Force while on a flight from Timika to Wamena with Major Marlon as its pilot."

The plane carrying 12 people on board is believed to have list contact while at around Mount Lisuwa in the Maima village, Minimo, Jayawijaya.

"Acoording to the information there were 12 people on board," he said.

Antara learned the plane that carried foof and other material supplies left Timika at 05.35am on Sunday and was expected to arrive in Wamena at 06.13am.

The plane last contacted Wamena airport at 06.02am and at 06.08 am it could be seen from the airport's tower about to land before vanishing a minute later.

At 08.40 am or two hours later the location of the crashed had been found by 30 personnel of the 1702/Jayawijaya military region led by Captain Irvan in Mount Lisuwa, Jayawijaya.

Search and rescue team including personnel from the military and the police are still trying to evacuate the crew of the aircraft.(*)