Indonesia police aircraft with 12 on board loses contact with Singapore air traffic control

SINGAPORE — An Indonesian police light aircraft with 12 people on board and headed to Batam lost contact with Singapore air traffic control earlier on Saturday (Dec 3).

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) confirmed that aircraft P4201 lost contact in the Singapore Flight Information Region at 11.22am Singapore time, 36 minutes before it was supposed to arrive in Batam. 

Indonesian media reported that the plane crashed in waters off Kabupaten Lingga, Riau Islands. Indonesia news outlet Detik cited Riau Islands Police chief Brigadier General Sambudi Gusdian as confirming the information.

In a Facebook post on Saturday night Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said "a wreckage was sighted at 3pm", but gave no further details. "The SAF will continue to work closely with Indonesian authorities to find survivors. Our prayers are with the families of the missing crew," he added.

Search and rescue operations from Singapore have been activated, as well as the CAAS Crisis Management Centre.

The aircraft had departed from Pankal Pinang, Indonesia at 10.24am. Its last known radar position was about 40 nautical miles south-east of Tanjung Pinang, said CAAS.

“With clearance from the Indonesian authorities, one SuperPuma helicopter and one Fokker 50 are currently on-scene supporting the Indonesians to locate the aircraft. Two ships are awaiting clearance by the Indonesian authorities to assist in the search and rescue efforts,” said CAAS.

National Search and Rescue Agency chief Henry Bambang Soelistyo said rescuers were searching seas between Mensanak and Sebangka islands, reported the Associated Press. He said villagers had found a seat and a bag containing a cellphone and police documents.