A plane carrying 16 Indonesian police personnel has crashed into the Batam Sea in the west of the country, according to rescuers.

Rescue forces have found three bodies and several debris, said spokesperson of the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Office Marsudi on 4 December.

The M28 Skytruck en route from Pangkal Pinang city to Batam Island in Kepulauan Riau province lost contact on December 3 when it was passing over the waters of Batam Island.

More than 300 soldiers and police from the office have voluntarily participated in the search for the aircraft, he said, adding that the position of the crashed plane has been determined and rescue work is continuing.

(Source: VNA)