Merpati plane lands hard in Indonesia; no deaths

KUPANG, Indonesia— A plane carrying 46 passengers and crew landed so hard in eastern Indonesia that both engines smashed into the runway. An airport official said some passengers were hurt but no fatalities were reported.

The plane is operated by state-run Merpati Nusantara Airlines. Airport authority head Imam Pramono says the Chinese-made Xian MA60 twin turboprop aircraft landed hard Monday at El Tari airport in East Nusa Tenggara capital of Kupang. The airport will be closed until the plane can be removed.

Witnesses said at least eight people were injured and all were rushed to an air force hospital.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.

In May 2011, another MA60 aircraft flown by Merpati crashed into the ocean off eastern Indonesia, killing all 25 people on board.