Plane with 16 people on board loses contact in Indonesia: official

JAKARTA -- A light plane carrying 16 police personnel lost communication with flight authorities when it was passing above waters off Batam island in western Indonesia on Saturday, rescuers said.

The M28 Skytruck passenger plane, owned by Indonesian police, was enroute from Pangkal Pinang city for Batam island in Kepulauan Riau province, Marsudi, spokesman of the national search and rescue office, told Xinhua via telephone.

"The plane lost contact today (Saturday), the condition of the plane is still unknown now," said the official.

Media reports said locals found the wreckage of the aircraft at about 12:20 pm Jakarta time in the waters off Batam island.

"The plane is predicted to crash in waters off Batam. A search and rescue operation is underway now," Marsudi said.