All 117 aboard an Indonesian plane that crashed shortly after takeoff are dead, a government spokesman said on Monday.

    JAKARTA, Sept. 5 (Xinhuanet) -- All 117 aboard an Indonesian plane that crashed shortly after takeoff are dead, a government spokesman said on Monday. Enditem

Over 100 feared dead in Indonesia plane crash

    JAKARTA, Sept. 5 (Xinhuanet) -- Around 100 people are feared dead after an Indonesian Boeing 737-200 crashed Monday into a residential neighborhood in the city of Medan one minute after takeoff and burst into flames.

    Edi Sofyan, a spokesman for the North Sumatra government, was quoted by local TV station as saying that there were no reports yet of any survivors. "The plane crashed into houses and landed onthe road. It is now in pieces. I expect the death toll to be around 100," said Sofyan.

    Hospital officials in Medan, capital of North Sumatra province,also said some of the dead were residents on the ground.

    The plane was operated by Mandala, a low-cost carrier, and was heading to Jakarta when it crashed into a crowded housing complex, Rizal.

    The airline said that it had a total of 117 people on board.

    The airport in Medan, the largest city on Sumatra island, is close to the center of town and is surrounded by densely populated residential areas.

    Mandala, which is partially owned by the military, has recently slashed the number of flights it operates to stay in business amid aggressive competition by other airlines. Enditem