Jakarta, NU Online
The general chairman of the executive board of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) has called on its members and all Muslims in the country to perform special prayers for the victims of the Hercules C-130 plane crash.<>

"God willing, their sins will be forgiven by Allah Swt," KH Said Aqil Siroj, popularly known as Kang Said, said here on Wednesday as reported by republika.co.

On behalf of all PBNU members, he expressed deep condolences over the tragedy that led to the death of more than 100 people.

Aqil also expressed his support to reevaluating equipment of the military's weaponry.

"It is the government's task to provide an efficient security system for the country's defense," he emphasized.

According to information, Kang Aqil pointed out that most equipment in the country's weapons system were old. The Hercules transport plane that crashed in Medan on Tuesday was made in 1964.

"Weapons system equipments that are no longer fit for use must be grounded. The safety of soldiers and the general public must not be risked," he stressed.

The Indonesian Air Force's Hercules C-130 crashed three minutes after takeoff at around 12.00 hours on Tuesday, on its way to Tanjung Pinang in Riau Islands province.

The plane carried 122 passengers, including 12 crew members. Among the 110 passengers were 39 military officers and 83 civilians who were their family members, according to Major Sus Jhony Tarigan, the spokesman for the Soewondo Airbase in Medan from where the plane departed. (masdar)