Planes collide while taxiing at Jakarta airport

Jakarta, Apr 5: Two passenger aircraft collided on the runway of an airport in the Indonesian capital, forcing its temporary closure. No injuries were reported.

The accident yesterday occurred at a military airport that also handles civilian flights to ease congestion at Jakarta's main commercial airport.

Batik Air said in a statement that its plane carrying 49 passengers and seven crew was "touched" while taxiing for takeoff by a TransNusa aircraft that was being towed.

Images posted online showed severe damage to the wing of the Batik Air jet, a Boeing 737-800.

The airline said passengers and crew were safely evacuated.

AP