An Indonesian C-130 Hercules air force plane crashed and burst into flames in a residential area shortly after take-off on June 30, killing at least 30 people.

According to military spokesman Fuad Basya, the plane, and its 12 crew members on board, was transporting military supplies from an airbase in Medan on the island of Sumatra to the remote Natura island.

He added the plane took off at 12:08 pm local time and crashed in the city about two minutes later, about five kilometres from the base.

The media has reported the pilots sent an emergency signal asking for a return to the airbase due to technical issues.

The airplane was manufactured in 1964.-VNA