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No sanctions yet for regent harming flight
Marianus Sae
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Marianus Sae. Tribunnews
The authorities remained undecided on Sunday as to whether they had any plans to prosecute Ngada Regent Marianus Sae for allegedly blocking the runway of Turelelo Soa Airport in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) to prevent an incoming passenger aircraft from landing.
Marianus was accused of instructing local public order agency (Satpol PP) personnel to block the runway with their cars after he failed to book a seat for a flight with Merpati Nusantara Airlines from El Tari Airport in Kupang to Turelelo Soa.
The runway was shut down on Saturday from 6:15 a.m. until 9 a.m.
'The regent booked the flight but it was already full,' said Turelelo Soa Airport head Ikhsan, as quoted by tribunnews.com on Sunday.
Ikhsan said the regent had claimed that he needed to get on a morning flight over concerns that he would miss a meeting with local councillors.
General manager of Merpati's NTT branch, Djibrael de Hock, said that one of the airline's aircraft had to return to El Tari after it failed to land due to the blockade.
The airplane, which was carrying 54 passengers, had flown for about 40 minutes before returning.
Djibrael said Merpati's president director had personally contacted Marianus, and that the two had agreed to close the case.
Marianus said he ordered the blocking of the runway because he was disappointed with Merpati.
'Merpati mistreated me,' Marianus said as quoted by tribunnews.com
Despite the regent's action that could have compromised aviation safety, the Transportation Ministry and the National Police have yet to draw up any plans to prosecute Marianus.
The ministry's spokesman, Bambang S. Ervan, said that while Marianus' action was unjustifiable and irresponsible, the ministry could not follow up on the case.
According to Bambang, it was the responsibility of the National Police and the Home Ministry to prosecute and sanction the regent.
'The ministry should issue a warning letter to the regent and the police should bring the case to court,' said Bambang.
According to the Aviation Law, anyone who obstructs or threatens flight safety could be sentenced to a maximum three years in jail and/ or a maximum fine of Rp 1 billion (US$81,873).
Bambang said that a number of local police officers and airport security guards had tried to prevent Satpol PP personnel from entering the runway area, but they were outnumbered.
National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said, however, that the police would 'study' the case and discuss it with the regent before filing charges.
'We don't know whether we will bring this case to court yet,' he said.
Local airports have long been plagued with poor security.
In August, a Lion Air aircraft overshot the runway at Gorontalo airport after it tried to dodge a cow that had wandered onto the runway. No fatalities were recorded. (koi)
