A plane built by Russia's Sukhoi has crashed in Indonesia with around 50 people on board during a demonstration flight to potential customers. The Superjet 100 struck a cliff as it descended over mountains near Jakarta.

Everything reportedly was normal that day on a preflight check and earlier demonstration flight. Russian Prime Minister <name>Dmitry Medvedev</name> today ordered an investigation into the accident, while Indonesian President <name>Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono</name> today said "I expect that there will be a full and careful investigation".

Those on board include journalists, Russian diplomats, and representatives of prospective customer airlines. The flight crew had requested permission for a descent from 10,000ft to 6,000ft shortly before contact was lost. It struck a 7,000ft mountain and the reason for the descent is not immediately apparent. The jet was touring Asia on a sales promotion with stops including Pakistan, Vietnam, Laos, Kazakhstan, and Burma.

Sukhoi's top test pilot, <name>Alexander Yablontsev</name>, and co-pilot <name>Alexander Kochetkov</name> reportedly were due to be at the controls of the crashed plane. The exact number on board is reported as being from 44 to 50. Sukhoi Civil Aircraft boss <name>Vladimir Prisyazhnyuk</name> said the flight carried eight, including technical staff, from Russia; two from Italy; and one each from France and the United States. The wreckage is in small pieces and, following unconfirmed reports saying bodies were seen, a search team reported no survivors found but several corpses.