Wreck of crashed Lion Air plane possibly detected by sonar

JAKARTA (Bernama): A search-and-rescue (SAR) team has detected what is believed to be the wreckage of the Lion Air commercial aircraft that crashed into the sea north of here on Monday (Oct 29), according to a television station report citing the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI).

TNI commander Hadi Tjahjanto was quoted by local TV station "Berita Satu" as saying that the SAR team, using sonar technology, has detected an object in the waters of Tanjung Karawang, where the Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane went down with 189 people on board.

“It has yet to be confirmed if the object is the plane wreckage. Right now, we are focusing on the coordinates and believe it is part of the aircraft (Flight JT610),” he was quoted as saying.

Hadi, who is coordinating the SAR operation, said a team of divers has been despatched to the area.

The 24-hour SAR operation is conducted by personnel from the military, police and Basarnas (National Search and Rescue Agency) using 35 vessels, three helicopters and three aircraft as well as a team of divers.

Sophisticated equipment is also being used in the operation, such as the multi-beam echo sounder, side scan sonar, magnetometer and remotely operated vehicles (ROV).

Flight JT610, carrying 181 passengers and eight crew, crashed into the Tanjung Karawang waters minutes after taking off at 6.20 am (7.20 am in Malaysia) from the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport for the Depati Amir Airport in Pangkal Pinang, Pulau Bangka Belitung, in Sumatera.

It was scheduled to arrive at its destination at 7.10 am (8.10 am in Malaysia). - Bernama