Sukhoi Superjet

A Sukhoi Superjet 100 has disappeared during a demonstration flight over Indonesia with 44 people on board.

The aircraft vanished from radar after declining to 6,000ft at approximately 2:33pm, with possible causes including a high-altitude crash and hijacking are yet to be confirmed.

The aircraft requested permission to descend from an altitude of 10,000ft to 6,000ft, a request that was permitted despite a 6,200ft-high mountain being located in the area.

The Sukhoi Superjet, Russia’s first new passenger aircraft in more than two decades, did not return to the airport at the scheduled time, with all onboard fuel expected to have been used by this time.

Indonesian authorities have scrambled several helicopters to search for the jet, although one of the search team has been confirmed to have returned with no sight of the jet. Further search attempts are being hampered by adverse weather conditions.

The jet was making its second demonstration flight of the day, having completed a first flight with no reported errors.

Related project

Sukhoi Superjet 100

The 95-seat Superjet 100 was rolled out in September 2007 at the KnAAPO assembly plant in Komsolmosk-on-Amur, Siberia. First flight of the aircraft took place in May 2008.