'No survivors' said the the military aviation commander, Agus Supriyatna.

The general added that so far rescuers recovered 49 bodies, of which 23 have been identified.

The experts do not know the cause of the fire but it is speculated that there was an engine failure.

According Supriyatnaen in the Hercules C-130 were traveling 12 crew and 101 passengers. The aircraft took off from the military base in Medan in the direction to the island of Natuna, he stated.

According to witnesses, the plane exploded in the air and its fragments fell on a hotel and residential buildings in Medan.