TNI training plane makes emergency landing

SEMARANG, Central Java: An Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) Tobago training airplane made an emergency landing in a coastal area near Ahmad Yani Air Base in Semarang, Central Java, because of engine trouble, a Navy spokesman has said.

TNI-AL Headquarters spokesman Cmdr. Iskandar Sitompul said on Tuesday the plane was conducting an exercise over the air base for about one hour before the emergency landing.

"The plane took off from the airbase at 9:30 a.m," he said, as quoted by Antara. He added that the plane landed in the Marun coastal area near Ahmad Yani Airport.

Sitompul said that Ahmad Yani Airport is one of two air bases used to train TNI-AL pilots; the other is Juanda Airbase in Surabaya, East Java.

The pilot, who was also the instructor, and the TNI-AL trainee excaped from the incident without injury.

Antara however reported from Semarang that four people aboard the plane were injured including the pilot, co-pilot and two passengers.

The identification number of the plane is unknown. A Rescue team successfully lifted the plane from a river estuary at 12:15 p.m. - JP