Passenger plane in Indonesia missing minutes after take off, debris found sparking fears it crashed

Rescue crews have discovered bits of debris in the ocean near where a Boeing 737 was last seen on flight radar before it vanished just moments after takeoff from Jakarta.

The Indonesian passenger plane, operated by budget airline Sriwijaya Air with the flight number SJ182, rapidly lost 3000 metres in altitude in less than 60 seconds while flying north over the Java Sea.

Among those on board were 10 children.

The suspected crash site is near tourist islands just off the coast of Indonesia’s sprawling capital.

Thousands Islands residents, a chain of islands located off the north coast of Jakarta, heard “two explosions” near the suspected crash sight.

[Source: News.com.au]