LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Teams searching for the plane spotted debris from the Sukhoi Superjet 100 at a height of about 5,800 feet on the side the volcano. The Sukhoi logo had been identified amid the wreckage of the plane, which disappeared off radar screens earlier this week.

The Russian Investigative Committee said it had launched a criminal probe into possible safety violations.

Authorities plan to start removing bodies from the area by helicopter shortly.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono acknowledged the crash. An image released by the Indonesian military showed bits of debris strewn across a patch of steep mountainside stripped bare of the thick vegetation covering the surrounding area.

The Russian Investigative Committee says that 48 people were on board, including eight Russian crew members. The Russian news agency RIA-Novosti said the number was 45; citing Sukhoi Civil Aviation President Vladimir Prisyazhnyuk as saying three of the people on the passenger list did not board the flight.

The plane was on a demonstration flight for Indonesian Ministry of Transportation officials and representatives of Indonesian airlines, the Russian Embassy in Jakarta said.

Indonesia's Sky Aviation had signed a $380 million deal in 2011 to buy 12 Sukhoi Superjet 100s. There are news reports said a number of Sky employees were on the plane that went down. Sukhoi employees are also among the missing. It was the first crash of a Sukhoi Superjet 100.

The plane was on its second demonstration flight when it lost contact with air controllers at Jakarta's Halim Perdanakusuma Airport.

"The first demonstration flight in the morning went smoothly. There were no problems," said Sunaryo, an official with Sukhoi's Indonesian agent.

The plane began making its descent but vanished from radar screens at 6,200 feet in a mountainous area.

Losing contact with air traffic controllers at 2:12 p.m., 21 minutes after taking off, the rescue agency chief said. Two helicopters were immediately sent out to search for the plane but had to return to their bases because of strong winds and weather.

The Sukhoi jet arrived in Jakarta as part of a demonstration tour of six Asian countries. It had been to Myanmar, Pakistan and Kazakhstan, and was scheduled to visit Laos and Vietnam after Indonesia.

© 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.