189 feared dead as Indonesian jet crashes

Contact lost 13 minutes after the Boeing 737 operated by Lion Air takes off from Jakarta

An Indonesian jet carrying 189 passengers and crew crashed into the sea on Monday shortly after takeoff from Jakarta, prompting a major search and rescue effort in the region, the country's disaster agency reported.

The Jakarta Post newspaper said the plane, a Boeing 737 Max 8 operated by Lion Air, took off from Jakarta at 6:20 am and contact was lost 13 minutes later.

It was bound for Pangkal Pinang on the Indonesian island of Bangka.

No survivors from flight JT610 have been found.

Search and rescue teams are trying to locate those on board. The passengers included one baby and two children.

Nugroho Budi Wiryanto, operations chief for the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency, said some 300 soldiers, police and fishermen are involved in the search, adding, "We're hoping for a miracle from God."

He said the water depth at the scene was "favorable" for rescue divers, but strong underwater currents could be a problem.

Yusuf Latief, head of media communication for the rescue agency, told Xinhua News Agency, "Several body parts and items have been found at the scene."

Muhammad Syaugi, head of the agency, said: "We don't know yet whether there are any survivors. We hope, we pray, but we cannot confirm."

Rescuers recovered various documents, including ID cards, passports and driver's licenses. Authorities had still to locate the main body of the plane, but they had found debris, Nugroho told The Jakarta Post.

"We have gone all out in deploying the equipment we have (for the operation)," he said.