Debris from the Lion Air JT610 plane that crashed into sea on October 29 (Photo: AFP/VNA) Jakarta (VNA) – Search and rescue efforts forpassengers aboard a Lion Air plane that crashed into sea on October 29 wereunderway throughout the night under an order from Indonesian President JokoWidodo.
Chief of National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) MuhammadSyaugi said his agency will continue deploy more personnel for the mission.
President Joko Widodo, on October 29, cut short his workingtrip to Bali to express his sympathies to families of the victims and directsearch and rescue activities for the victims.
Speaking to the press the same day, Widodo said theauthorities have mobilised 15 boats combing the Tanjung Karawang waters, wherethe plane crashed, for the victims. He noted concerted efforts from the Basarnas,police and army forces, transport ministry and some private ship owners canhelp speed up the search and rescue process.
He ordered the Basarnas to timely update information forfamilies of the victims and operate an around-the-clock search.
The passenger jet, a Boeing 737 Max 8 coded JT610, was enroute from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang – centre of the Bangka-Belitung tin miningregion, carrying 189 people onboard. It lost contact with the air traffic controljust 13 minutes after takeoff. Basarnas said on October 29 that there would beno survivors.
A Basarnas representative said it has so far sent 150personnel to the accident site. They have recovered aircraft debris, personalitems, intact bodies and body remains of the passengers.-VNA
VNA
