Small plane skids off runaway in Papua, Indonesia, scores injured

JAKARTA - A small passenger plane skidded off a runaway while landing in an airport in Papua in eastern Indonesia on Tuesday, injuring scores of people, official said.

The plane, operated by Enggang Air with flight number PK-RSC, had the accident at midday when it was landing at Mulia airport at Puncak Jaya district of Papua, J.A. Barata, spokesman for the Indonesian transport ministry said.

"The latest position of the plane is out of a runaway and the plane banks to the right," he told Xinhua in a text message.

"All the nine passengers and two crew were reported to be safe. According to the procedures all of the passengers, including those suffering from injuries or are seemed not having wounds, have been rushed to a hospital to ensure their health condition," Barata said.

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Committee have rushed to the scene to probe the cause of the accident, said Barata.