DHAKA: A light aircraft crashed and burst into flames on a beach in eastern Indonesia on Sunday after being hit by lightning, killing all four people on board.

An Indonesian official and eyewitness said.

The Piper Seneca turboprop was flying from the eastern region of Papua to Tual city in the Maluku Islands when it was caught in a storm around midday.

Witness Akib Hanubun told media the aircraft was pounded by fierce winds and rain before being hit by lightning and crashing near a village.

‘The plane’s left wing broke after it was struck by lightning,’ the 47-year-old told media, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 1731 HRS, JAN 19, 2014
Edited by Robab Rosan, Current Affairs Editor