Investigators search Indonesia plane crash site

CIJERUK: Dozens of Russian experts combed a remote mountainside in Indonesia yesterday searching for the flight recorders of a Sukhoi jet that slammed into a dormant volcano. Everyone onboard was killed.
Indonesian authorities said they had located the Superjet's tail, where the black boxes are mounted.
"The search and rescue teams have just spotted the tail of the plane about 300 metres (1,000 feet) from the mountain peak and they are trying now to reach it," said Daryatmo, head of the national search and rescue agency. "Hopefully we'll soon find the black boxes," he added.
More than 20 body bags with the remains of victims had arrived in Jakarta yesterday for forensics tests and identification, authorities said. Transport ministry spokesman Bambang Ervan said a team of 41 Russians and several hundred Indonesians were at the site.
He said Indonesian investigators had questioned staff at the control tower for information about the Russian plane's last contact with the ground.
Reaching the site, just 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of Jakarta, and retrieving scattered body parts and debris in jungle terrain has posed an extreme challenge for rescuers.
Indonesian marines climbers yesterday were attempted to descend into a deep ravine, Daryatmo said. Authorities said more Russians were trekking to the site and that a total of 73 Russians would take part in the operation.
The Sukhoi Superjet 100 disappeared from radar during what was supposed to be a short demonstration flight to tout Russia's first post-Soviet civilian aircraft.Officials have confirmed that there were no survivors on the plane carrying at least 45 people, mostly Indonesian airline representatives and eight Russians. Questions are swirling over why the plane crashed with an experienced pilot at the helm.
A Russian fact-finding committee has said there were indications that safety standards were violated.