Indonesian police plane crashes near Batam, fifteen missing

December 3, 2016 An plane operated by police in Indonesia crashed into the sea near the island of Batam today. The fifteen on board are missing. The domestic flight from on  to Batam lost contact with Singaporean  at 10:22 Batam local time; Singapore has controlled some Indonesian airspace since the 1940s. Fisherman have located wreckage and body parts off the coast of in the  which also include Batam.

The activated its Crisis Management Centre and has supplied a  helicopter and a  plane for. Two Singaporean ships are on standby awaiting Indonesian clearance. Three Indonesian naval ships and two patrol boats are also involved.

, the Indonesian search and rescue authority, says a 200 square- (about 700 square ) area is being searched. Items recovered thus far include seats, luggage, and documents. Basarnas head Bambang Soelistyo said survivors were possible.