A plane crashed into an airport building damaging its wing in Indonesia this morning.

The Lion Air Boeing 737 was carrying 126 passengers when the wingtip collided with a structure connecting the terminal with jet bridges at the Mopah International Airport in Merauke, South Papua.

Pilots had started the departure from the gate at 9am but aborted takeoff following the collision at 9:10am. Passengers disembarked and were offered alternative flights.

A Lion Air spokesman said the company had started an investigation into the crash.

Merauke Police Chief AKBP Sandi Sultan said: ‘It is true that the plane belonging to Lion Air bound for Sentani, Jayapura Regency, had an incident crashing into a roof at the Mopah Airport.

Mokhammad Khusnu, Head of International Cooperation, Public Relations and General Affairs of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, also confirmed the incident.