This is just horrible. It’s too early to be picked up by the major news networks (correction: they have it now), so I thought I’d post it here. From the Jakarta Post. Another link to BBC’s coverage.

Indonesian jet with over 100 on board crashes into residential area

JAKARTA (Agencies): – An Indonesian passenger plane with over 100 people on board crashed into a residential area shortly after taking off from the northern city of Medan, officials said.

The Mandala Airlines jet bound for Jakarta crashed minutes after take-off from Polonia airport in Medan on the island of Sumatra, said Ino, a spokesman for the National Search and Rescue Agency.

It was not immediately clear how many people were on board the plane.

Syahrial Anas, a doctor who was overseeing the removal of charred bodies, said at least 60 people were killed.

“We’re having a hard time getting to the bodies, because of the heat,” he told The Associated Press, adding that dozens of ambulances and firefighters were heading to the scene in heavy traffic.

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