BOEING 737 PASSENGER PLANE CRASHES INTO SEA AFTER FALLING 10,000FT AFTER TAKEOFF

A Boeing 737 passenger jet carrying 50 passengers has disappeared over the sea after plummeting 10,000 feet shortly after takeoff from Jakarta, reports claim.

The Sriwijaya Air plane took off from the Indonesian capital on Saturday and was heading to Pontianak in West Kalimantan province when it lost contact with the control room, according to local media reports.

The plane – believed to be a Boeing B737-500 – is understood to have fallen 10,000 feet in less than 60 seconds just four minutes after it took off.

Flightradar24 tweeted: ‘We are following reports of a missing Boeing 737-500 in Indonesia. We hope to have more information soon.’

Indonesian airline Sriwijaya Air is still is still getting more information before issuing a statement.

Indonesia’s transport ministry said on Saturday: ‘A Sriwijaya (Air) plane from Jakarta to Pontianak (on Borneo island) with call sign SJY182 has lost contact,’ said ministry spokesman Adita Irawati.

‘It last made contact at 2:40 pm (0740 GMT).’