Russian Demo Flight MIA in Indonesia

[markis10]

Not good news!

Russia’s Sukhoi Superjet-100 airplane, on a demonstration flight in Jakarta, went off radar screens on Wednesday, Indonesian aviation authorities said.There are 44 people on board, including eight Russians and 36 foreign nationals.
Indonesian authorities suggested the airplane may have been hijacked or crashed into a mountain in poor visibility.
The plane has failed to return to the airport after a demonstration flight.

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20120509/173333864.html

 

[2impulsiv]

Not good at all.

Thoughts go to the family and friends of the missing passengers and crew..

 

[samh004]

Not a good thing for Sukhoi either, if they were planning on picking up buyers.

The latest reports suggest none of those onboard can be reached by telephone.

“The authorities are searching for the plane. A helicopter has just returned but says there is no trace of it. Rescuers are looking at the maps trying to determine where it could be,” Sergey Dolya who was on a previous flight on the very same aircraft, told RT.

Russia

 

[markis10]

Given the highest terrain in the area is 6300, I am surprised they were allowed to descend to 6000, and not surprised that the last radar contact had the aircraft at 6200.

 

[samh004]

The plane's alleged trajectory is shown on a photo tweeted by blogger Sergey Dolya from the emergency operation center. The plane flew around the mountain, then sharply changed course as it began descending near a point marked with black arrows.

cccccccccc

 

[markis10]

Given x marks the spot where contact was lost and the contour data near the X, things do not look very good.

 

[lovestotravel]

Russia
Indonesia
Air Safety

Not normally words I would associate in the same sentence

 

[lovestotravel]

Wreckage found

Indonesians find wreckage of missing Russian plane

 

[jetlagger]

Sad.. Prayers for the passengers & crew.
Many questions to be answered..

 

[Blackadder]

MSNBC report World News - Debris spotted in search for Russian jet missing in Indonesia

 

[AVC]

Russia
Indonesia
Air Safety

Not normally words I would associate in the same sentence

True that.

I've always thought Russian/Soviet machinery to be very wierd. I wouldn't have been too comfortable on that flight.

 

[markis10]

Sadly test flights and demos dont have a great record when it comes to safety, the A320 incident showed that, and sadly this looks to be another example. Picture from http://www.news.com.au/world/crashed-jet-found-on-side-of-mountain/story-e6frfkyi-1226352041850

 

[AaronBradford]

In addition to the above, here's a larger detail from this source. The trees look singed and it certainly doesn't seem like it is 'relatively intact' as is being reported.

 

[samh004]

That’s a very steep slope!

Can’t see much to indicate there was a plane there… but I’d imagine further down the mountain there will be proof.

Also looks like they may have nearly cleared it.

 

[markis10]

That’s a very steep slope!

Can’t see much to indicate there was a plane there… but I’d imagine further down the mountain there will be proof.

Also looks like they may have nearly cleared it.

Sam, the map you posted along with mine earlier showed the contour lines very close together, indicative of steep terrain. If you look at the X, it could not be steeper!

 

[samh004]

Sam, the map you posted along with mine earlier showed the contour lines very close together, indicative of steep terrain. If you look at the X, it could not be steeper!

Well I was holding out hope they’d bounced over the top and down the other side.

It does seem like they were very close to just scraping through, which would probably have been just as bad. Wonder if they’ll find the black boxes.

Will be interesting to hear why ATC allowed them to fly as low as 6000 when the peaks of some mountains are just a bit above that. 8000 would surely have been a better idea.

 

[jetlagger]

That’s a very steep slope!

Can’t see much to indicate there was a plane there… but I’d imagine further down the mountain there will be proof.

Also looks like they may have nearly cleared it.

I know it's inappropriate to make any prejudgment, however in laymans terms, shouldn't there have been audible warnings of 'terrain, terrain, terrain" amongst others in the coughpit... Or we're these an 'optional extra" on this model jet?

 

[markis10]

They could have been given a visual clearance with terrain, I cannot think otherwise how a descent clearance below MSALT would be possible, then again I dont fly or work in Indonesia.

 

[VHOEJ]

Russia
Indonesia
Air Safety

Not normally words I would associate in the same sentence

Yep, hate to agree with you but that is spot on. Some things never change.

 

[AVC]

I know it's inappropriate to make any prejudgment, however in laymans terms, shouldn't there have been audible warnings of 'terrain, terrain, terrain" amongst others in the coughpit.

With the ground coming up so fast ( due to the steepness of the slope), it would be very doubtful that they could have cleared it anyway, but I'm not sure how you would visually miss an earth wall right in front you.

But Markis pretty much nailed it. Highest terrain in area is 6300 and they were given clearance for 6000. It doesn't take a maths genius to work out that one.