Over 100 Feared Dead In Indonesia's Worst Air Disaster

Over 100 people are feared dead when a Mandala Airlines Boeing 737 flight crashed minutes after taking off from Medan Airport in Indonesia this morning. Update from Reuters:

MEDAN, Indonesia (Reuters) - At least 100 people are feared dead after a Boeing 737-200 crashed in the center of Indonesia's third biggest city on Monday just after takeoff, breaking into pieces and setting fire to homes and cars.
The plane, operated by local carrier Mandala Airlines, had 112 passengers and five crew on board, said Asril Tanjung, the airline's director. The cause of the crash in Medan city was being investigated, but foul play was highly unlikely, he said.

The plane slammed into the heart of Medan, the capital of North Sumatra province, sparking widespread panic, witnesses said. Hospital officials and witnesses said some of the dead were residents on the ground.

Edi Sofyan, a spokesman for the North Sumatra government, said there were no reports yet of any survivors. He added that the governor of the province was on board the flight.

"I expect the death toll to be around 100," said Sofyan.

Fierce flames licked at the wreckage as it lay on one of Medan's main roads. Cars and homes were also on fire and plumes of thick black smoke rose into the air as fire crews tried to extinguish the blazes. [...]

Geez!