Indonesia's Adam Air Boeing 737-400, who was reported missing in the air space above Makassar, is believed to have made an emergency landing on the sea after losing contact with the air control center in Makassar, an airport official said.

 

"After losing contact with air control, the plane which was on its way from Surabaya to Manado is believed to have landed on the sea," Antara news agency quoted Sam Ratulangi airport manager on duty Pinaria Simon SST as saying on Monday evening in Manado, capital of North Sulawesi province.

 

Pinaria told a press conference that Sam Ratulangi airport authorities were coordinating with relevant agencies such as the police, SAR (Search and Rescue) Agency, the local naval base to initiate efforts to locate the missing aircraft.

 

The ill-fated aircraft with 85 passengers, including seven children and six babies, and an eight-member crew on board left Surabaya at 13:59 local time for Manado. It was scheduled to arrive in Manado at 16:14 local time but until 21:00 it had not reached its destination.

 

In the meantime, North Sulawesi Police Chief Brig Gen Uli said the whereabouts of the ill-fated aircraft was still unknown.

 

He said North Sulawesi police were ready to give whatever assistance they were able to give to undertake rescue efforts as well as to help calm down relatives of the missing aircraft's passengers.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 2, 2007)