ANDI JATMIKO, Associated Press
The logo of Sukhoi Co. is clearly visible, center, among the...
The wreckage of a missing Sukhoi Superjet-100 are scattered on the mountainside in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, Friday, May 11, 2012. The crash of the new, Russian-made jetliner into a jagged Indonesian volcano during a flight to impress potential buyers has thrown doubt on dozens of plane sales just as Moscow seeks a comeback in foreign markets. All 45 people aboard were feared dead. Photo: AP / AP
The wreckage of a missing Sukhoi Superjet-100 are scattered on the...
The wreckage of a missing Sukhoi Superjet-100 are scattered on the mountainside in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, Friday, May 11, 2012. The crash of the new, Russian-made jetliner into a jagged Indonesian volcano during a flight to impress potential buyers has thrown doubt on dozens of plane sales just as Moscow seeks a comeback in foreign markets. All 45 people aboard were feared dead. Photo: AP / AP
The wreckage of a missing Sukhoi Superjet-100 are scattered on the...
An Indonesian soldier walks through rugged terrain while heading to the site of a plane crash on Mount Salak, in Cijeruk, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, Thursday, May 10, 2012. Rescuers discovered the shattered wreckage of a new Russian-made passenger plane Thursday that smashed into the side of the Indonesian volcano during a flight to impress potential buyers. All on board were feared dead. Photo: Achmad Ibrahim / AP
An Indonesian soldier walks through rugged terrain while heading to...
Indonesian rescuers walk through rugged terrain as they make their way to the site of a plane crash at Salak mountain in Cijeruk, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, Thursday, May 10, 2012. Rescuers discovered the shattered wreckage of a new Russian-made passenger plane Thursday that smashed into the side of the Indonesian volcano during a flight to impress potential buyers. All on board were feared dead. Photo: Achmad Ibrahim / AP
Indonesian rescuers walk through rugged terrain as they make their...
Map locates area around Salak Mountain, Indonesia, where air controllers lost contact with a Russian plane. Photo: AP / AP
Map locates area around Salak Mountain, Indonesia, where air...
The wreckage of a Sukhoi Superjet-100 are scattered on the mountainside in Bogor,West Java, Indonesia, Friday, May 11, 2012. The new Russian-made passenger plane disappeared Wednesday during a demonstration flight with 47 people on board. Photo: AP / AP
The wreckage of a Sukhoi Superjet-100 are scattered on the...
Indonesian police officers walks to the location of a plane crash in Salak mountain in Cijeruk, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, Friday, May 11, 2012. Rescue teams used climbing gear to scale the nearly sheer slopes of a dormant Indonesian volcano, hoping Friday to reach the wreckage of a Russian-made jetliner that crashed with 45 people aboard during a demonstration flight for potential buyers. Photo: Achmad Ibrahim / AP
Indonesian police officers walks to the location of a plane crash...
Indonesian Air Force jumper prepare their gear before departing on a rescue mission to the site where a Russian-made Sukhoi Superjet-100 plane crashed, at their base in Pasir Pogor, West Java, Indonesia, Friday, May 11, 2012. Rescue teams used climbing gear to scale the nearly sheer slopes of a dormant Indonesian volcano, hoping Friday to reach the wreckage of a Russian-made jetliner that crashed with 45 people aboard during a demonstration flight for potential buyers. Photo: AP / AP
Indonesian Air Force jumper prepare their gear before departing on...
The logo of Sukhoi Co. is clearly visible, center, bottom, among the wreckage of a Sukhoi Superjet-100 scattered on the mountainside in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, Friday, May 11, 2012. The crash of the new, Russian-made jetliner into a jagged Indonesian volcano during a flight to impress potential buyers has thrown doubt on dozens of plane sales just as Moscow seeks a comeback in foreign markets. All 45 people aboard were feared dead. Photo: AP / AP
The logo of Sukhoi Co. is clearly visible, center, bottom, among...
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, center, and his wife Kristiani, left, comfort the relatives of the crashed Sukhoi Superjet-100 as they visit Halim Perdanakusumah airport in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, May 11, 2012. Rescue teams used climbing gear to scale the nearly sheer slopes of a dormant Indonesian volcano, hoping Friday to reach the wreckage of a Russian-made jetliner that crashed with 45 people aboard during a demonstration flight for potential buyers. Photo: Tatan Syuflana / AP
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, center, and his wife...
A police forensic officer inspects dental record of a passenger aboard the crashed Sukhoi Superjet-100 for identification purpose at Halim Perdanakusumah Airport in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, May 11, 2012. Rescue teams used climbing gear to scale the nearly sheer slopes of a dormant Indonesian volcano, hoping Friday to reach the wreckage of a Russian-made jetliner that crashed with 45 people aboard during a demonstration flight for potential buyers. Photo: Tatan Syuflana / AP
A police forensic officer inspects dental record of a passenger...
The logo of Sukhoi Co. is clearly visible, center, bottom, among the wreckage of a Sukhoi Superjet-100 scattered on the mountainside in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, Friday, May 11, 2012. The crash of the new, Russian-made jetliner into a jagged Indonesian volcano during a flight to impress potential buyers has thrown doubt on dozens of plane sales just as Moscow seeks a comeback in foreign markets. All 45 people aboard were feared dead. Photo: AP / AP
The logo of Sukhoi Co. is clearly visible, center, bottom, among...
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, center, and his wife Kristiani, left, comfort the relatives of the crashed Sukhoi Superjet-100 as they visit Halim Perdanakusumah airport in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, May 11, 2012. Rescue teams used climbing gear to scale the nearly sheer slopes of a dormant Indonesian volcano, hoping Friday to reach the wreckage of a Russian-made jetliner that crashed with 45 people aboard during a demonstration flight for potential buyers. Photo: Tatan Syuflana / AP
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, center, and his wife...
A police forensic officer inspects dental record of a passenger aboard the crashed Sukhoi Superjet-100 for identification purpose at Halim Perdanakusumah Airport in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, May 11, 2012. Rescue teams used climbing gear to scale the nearly sheer slopes of a dormant Indonesian volcano, hoping Friday to reach the wreckage of a Russian-made jetliner that crashed with 45 people aboard during a demonstration flight for potential buyers. Photo: Tatan Syuflana / AP
Page 1 of 1
MOUNT SALAK, Indonesia (AP) — Search teams found at least 12 bodies Friday on the steep slope of an Indonesian volcano where a Russian-made jetliner crashed while demonstrating the plane for potential buyers from airlines, an official said.
All 45 aboard the Sukhoi Superjet-100 that crashed Wednesday are feared dead.
"Today we have discovered 12 victims, all dead," Rear Marshal Daryatmo, head of the national search and rescue agency, told reporters Friday.
The search team used ropes to climb up to the wreckage through jungle on the near-vertical slopes of Mount Salak, search and rescue agency spokesman Gagah Prakoso said by telephone.
Thick fog and the jagged mountain's slopes are still keeping helicopters from landing, so the bodies remain at the crash site, said Daryatmo. He added that the soldiers, police and volunteers on the rescue team were cutting down trees to fashion a landing area for helicopters.
Local television showed what appeared to be the plane's tail with the blue-and-white Sukhoi logo, part of a wing and bits of twisted metal scattered along the slope like confetti.
The jetliner slammed into the dormant volcano at nearly 800 kph (480 mph) during drizzle. Russian and French investigators have joined the investigation into the cause.
The Superjet-100 is Russia's first new model of passenger jet since the fall of the Soviet Union two decades ago and was intended to help resurrect its aerospace industry.
The ill-fated Superjet was carrying representatives from local airlines and journalists on what was supposed to be a 50-minute demonstration flight. Just 21 minutes after takeoff from a Jakarta airfield, the Russian pilot and co-pilot asked for permission to drop from 10,000 feet to 6,000 feet (3,000 meters to 1,800 meters). They gave no explanation, disappearing from the radar immediately afterward.
It was not clear why the crew asked to shift course, especially since they were so close to the 7,000-foot (2,200-meter) volcano, or whether they got an OK, officials have said.
___
Associated Press writers Ali Kotarumalos and Niniek Karmini in Jakarta contributed to this report.
Send comments to newmedia@seattlepi.com















