Passengers injured as Bali plane skids into sea

A Lion Air plane carrying more than 100 passengers and crew overshot a runway on the Indonesian resort island of Bali today and crashed into the sea, injuring 22 people, officials said.

All of the passengers and crew were safely rescued and 22 people were taken to three different hospitals with various injuries, said an official with Bali's search and rescue agency. He said initial reports showed there were 101 passengers and seven crew members aboard the plane.

TV footage showed police and rescuers using rubber boats to evacuate passengers and crew members. A photo on local channel TV One showed the plane with a large crack in its body sitting on top of the water.



The Transportation Ministry's director general of aviation, Harry Bakti Gumay, said the plane overshot the runway and fell into the sea from a height of about 55 yards. The cause of the accident was unclear, and Gumay said an investigation was under way.

Hospital officials and paramedics said at least seven passengers were taken to Sanglah hospital with head wounds and broken bones. Many passengers arrived there with wet clothes and bruises.

"The aircraft was in landing position when suddenly I saw it getting closer to the sea, and finally it hit the water," said a passenger who sustained head wounds in the crash.

"All of the passengers were screaming in panic in fear they would drown. I left behind my belongings and went to an emergency door. I got out of the plane and swam before rescuers jumped in to help me."