Indonesia: 10 bodies found near crash site

2012-05-11 10:01

The logo of the Sukhoi Company is clearly visible, centre, bottom, among the wreckage of a Sukhoi Superjet-100 scattered on the mountainside in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia. (AP)

Mount Salak - An official says Indonesian climbers have found at least 10 bodies near the wreckage of a Russian-made jetliner that crashed into a steep volcano slope.

Search and rescue agency spokesperson Gagah Prakoso says the bodies are being prepared to be transported from the crash site by helicopter. All 45 people on board are feared dead in Wednesday's crash.

The team used ropes on Friday to scale the near-vertical slopes of Mount Salak. The Sukhoi Superjet-100 slammed into the dormant volcano while on a demonstration flight for potential buyers from Indonesian airlines.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

The Superjet-100 is Russia's first new model of passenger jet since the fall of the Soviet Union two decades ago and was intended to help resurrect its aerospace industry.

- SAPA