A military spokesman says bodies and aircraft parts have been found during the search for a transport plane that disappeared yesterday afternoon.
The military confirmed, ten dead bodies, a wheel, life jackets and some luggage being found by the search teams on Thursday. The air force source said more than a dozen of those on board were children.
The four-engine Chinese-made Y-8 turboprop aircraft had left Myeik, also known as Mergui, heading for Yangon on a route over the Andaman Sea.
The aircraft, a Y-8 transporter made in China, was carrying 14 crew members as well as 106 military personnel and family members, including children.
It is not unusual for such flights to carry civilians to offset transportation costs for military families stationed in the somewhat remote south.
An announcement posted on the Facebook page of the commander of the military, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, said contact was lost when the plane was believed to be about 32 kilometers (20 miles) to the west of Dawei, formerly known as Tavoy.
Apple unveils HomePod speaker, first new product in years, adds VR elements
Apple reinvented portable music with iPod and now HomePod will reinvent how we enjoy music wirelessly throughout our homes. Apple announced during its Worldwide Developers Conference presentation that the new speaker system will cost $350.
The military said Myanmar received the Y-8 plane in March previous year, and since then it had logged 809 flying hours.
It is monsoon season in Myanmar, but a civil aviation official said the weather had been "normal" with good visibility when the plane took off.
The military said the plane was flying at over 18,000 feet (5,486 metres) when it lost contact with air traffic control at 1:35 pm (07:05 GMT) on Wednesday, about half an hour after takeoff. It was carrying 2.4 tons of supplies, the military said.
However, the main part of the plane has not been found. The former military junta bought numerous aircraft from Myanmar's giant neighbour during their 50 years of isolated rule, when they were squeezed by Western sanctions.
The plane was purchased from China in March a year ago and had logged 809 flying hours, according to the military.
A five-strong crew died when an air force plane burst into flames soon after taking off from the capital Naypyidaw in February previous year.
Comments