Sukhoi Sukhoi SSJ100 plane crash
Near Jakarta, Indonesia
Updated on
The Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) operated by Sukhoi was performing a demonstration flight for airline representatives and journalists in order to promote sales of the aircraft. The plane took off from Jakarta Airport and was expected to come back to Jakarta Airport after a short flight. 37 passengers, 6 crew and 2 Sukhoi officials were onboard. The plane vanished from radar screens and lost contact with ground controllers after about 30 minutes of flight. All the 45 people onboard were killed.
The jet was enroute at 10,000 feet near Mount Salak about 36 NM South of Jakarta about 30 minutes into the flight when the crew requested and was cleared to descend to 6,000 feet. This was the last radio transmission. Radar contact was lost when the aircraft was in a right hand turn descending through 6,200 feet between Mount Salak and Mount Gede.
The aircraft wreckage was found the following morning on the slopes of Mount Salak at an elevation of about 5300 feet MSL (950 ft below the top of the mountain). The aircraft impacted the edge of a cliff. The wreckage is lying in a remote area, on an extremely steep terrain.
Weather data reported do no suggest poor visibility; however there is possibility of local cloud at Mount Salak that may have reduced the visibility.
Mount Salak is 2,211 meters/7,254 feet high, nearby Mount Gede is 2,958 meters/9,705 feet high.
This newly designed passenger jet made in Russia made its maiden run in 2008. It was on a "Welcome Asia!" road show with stops in countries stretching from Pakistan to Laos and Vietnam.
