Post by Banker on Apr 14, 2013 6:29:55 GMT 7
Passengers who were aboard a Lion Air flight that crashed into the sea in Bali have told of their horror as the plane plunged into the water short of the runway as it came into land.
All 101 passengers as well as seven crew were safe in Bali, although at least seven people had been taken to Denpasar's Sanglah Hospital on Saturday with head wounds and broken bones.
Many passengers arrived with wet clothes and bruises.
The Boeing 737-800 had been trying to land at Ngurah Rai International Airport about 3.30pm local time (5.30pm AEST) on Saturday when it fell short of the runway.
Photographs on Indonesian television showed the plane's fuselage had split into two parts just behind its wings, and the plane half submerged in shallow water.
Andis, a passenger who was on the flight, said afterwards that the plane suddenly fell into the sea as it made its final approach.
There was a loud bang as the plane hit the water, he said.
'I looked down. It was suddenly sea,' Andis said.
'I realised that the plane was flying too low, but we still stayed calm until we heard a bang. There was panic.'
A spokeswoman with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra said efforts were being made to find out whether any Australians were on the flight.
'The Australian Consulate-General in Bali is making urgent inquiries to determine whether any Australian citizens may have been involved in air crash is Bali on Saturday afternoon,' the spokeswoman said.
'At this time we are not aware that there are any Australian victims.'
All 101 passengers as well as seven crew were safe in Bali, although at least seven people had been taken to Denpasar's Sanglah Hospital on Saturday with head wounds and broken bones.
Many passengers arrived with wet clothes and bruises.
The Boeing 737-800 had been trying to land at Ngurah Rai International Airport about 3.30pm local time (5.30pm AEST) on Saturday when it fell short of the runway.
Photographs on Indonesian television showed the plane's fuselage had split into two parts just behind its wings, and the plane half submerged in shallow water.
Andis, a passenger who was on the flight, said afterwards that the plane suddenly fell into the sea as it made its final approach.
There was a loud bang as the plane hit the water, he said.
'I looked down. It was suddenly sea,' Andis said.
'I realised that the plane was flying too low, but we still stayed calm until we heard a bang. There was panic.'
A spokeswoman with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra said efforts were being made to find out whether any Australians were on the flight.
'The Australian Consulate-General in Bali is making urgent inquiries to determine whether any Australian citizens may have been involved in air crash is Bali on Saturday afternoon,' the spokeswoman said.
'At this time we are not aware that there are any Australian victims.'
