Many die in Indonesian air crash

Summary
20 May 2009

At least 97 people have died in a military plane crash on the island of Java. The Hercules transport plane which was carrying troops and their families was flying from the capital Jakarta to the town of Madium when it crashed.

Reporter:
Lucy Williamson

Remains of the plane after fatal crash
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Report
Eyewitness reports describe a big explosion before the plane reached the runway. An army spokesman said the plane smashed into local houses before skidding to a halt in a nearby field and bursting into flames.

The aircraft was almost completely destroyed in the crash - the wreckage is strewn across East Java's bright green rice fields; its tail the only piece left intact. Rescue teams have been pulling out the dead and injured from the smoking debris. The plane was carrying military personnel and their families - including 10 children.

It's not clear yet why the plane crashed. The army says weather and landing conditions were good, and that the plane itself was in good condition. But the airforce has long complained that it is underfunded and that it lacks spare parts due to long-running US military sanctions which have recently been lifted.

Lucy Williamson, BBC News, Jakarta

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Vocabulary
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eyewitness reports
descriptions of the plane crash given by people who saw it happen
smashed
moved with great force against something hard, usually causing damage or injury
skidding to a halt
sliding along a surface with no control until it stopped
bursting into flames
suddenly burning in a violent and powerful way
wreckage
badly damaged remains of the plane
strewn
scattered or thrown untidily
intact
complete and in its original condition
debris
remains of the plane
underfunded
not receiving enough money
sanctions
official orders to stop trade with another country (usually because of a political disagreement)

BBC Learning English
Words in the News
20th
May 2009
Many die in Indonesian air crash



Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2009
Page 1 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com



At least 97 people have died in a military plane crash on the island of Java. The Hercules
transport plane which was carrying troops and their families was flying from the capital
Jakarta to the town of Madium when it crashed. Lucy Williamson reports:

Eyewitness reports describe a big explosion before the plane reached the runway. An army
spokesman said the plane smashed into local houses before skidding to a halt in a nearby
field and bursting into flames.

The aircraft was almost completely destroyed in the crash - the wreckage is strewn across
East Java's bright green rice fields; its tail the only piece left intact. Rescue teams have been
pulling out the dead and injured from the smoking debris. The plane was carrying military
personnel and their families - including 10 children.

It's not clear yet why the plane crashed. The army says weather and landing conditions were
good, and that the plane itself was in good condition. But the airforce has long complained
that it is underfunded and that it lacks spare parts due to long-running US military sanctions
which have recently been lifted.
Lucy Williamson, BBC News, Jakarta


Words in the news © British Broadcasting Corporation 2009
Page 2 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com

Vocabulary and definitions

eyewitness reports descriptions of the plane crash given by people who saw it
happen
smashed moved with great force against something hard, usually
causing damage or injury
skidding to a halt sliding along a surface with no control until it stopped
bursting into flames suddenly burning in a violent and powerful way
wreckage badly damaged remains of the plane
strewn scattered or thrown untidily
intact complete and in its original condition
debris remains of the plane
underfunded does not received enough money
sanctions official orders to stop trade with another country (usually
because of a political disagreement)

More on this story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8058721.stm

Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2009/05/090520_witn_indonesia_page.shtml BBC Learning English
Words in the News
20th
May 2009
Many die in Indonesian air crash



Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2009
Page 1 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com



At least 97 people have died in a military plane crash on the island of Java. The Hercules
transport plane which was carrying troops and their families was flying from the capital
Jakarta to the town of Madium when it crashed. Lucy Williamson reports:

Eyewitness reports describe a big explosion before the plane reached the runway. An army
spokesman said the plane smashed into local houses before skidding to a halt in a nearby
field and bursting into flames.

The aircraft was almost completely destroyed in the crash - the wreckage is strewn across
East Java's bright green rice fields; its tail the only piece left intact. Rescue teams have been
pulling out the dead and injured from the smoking debris. The plane was carrying military
personnel and their families - including 10 children.

It's not clear yet why the plane crashed. The army says weather and landing conditions were
good, and that the plane itself was in good condition. But the airforce has long complained
that it is underfunded and that it lacks spare parts due to long-running US military sanctions
which have recently been lifted.
Lucy Williamson, BBC News, Jakarta


Words in the news © British Broadcasting Corporation 2009
Page 2 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com

Vocabulary and definitions

eyewitness reports descriptions of the plane crash given by people who saw it
happen
smashed moved with great force against something hard, usually
causing damage or injury
skidding to a halt sliding along a surface with no control until it stopped
bursting into flames suddenly burning in a violent and powerful way
wreckage badly damaged remains of the plane
strewn scattered or thrown untidily
intact complete and in its original condition
debris remains of the plane
underfunded not receiving enough money
sanctions official orders to stop trade with another country (usually
because of a political disagreement)