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Ruly, Reni did not pay to fly on Hercules aircraft
Sahala Sihotang, father of 24-year-old Ruly and 17-year-old Reni who are feared dead after the Hercules C-130 aircraft tragedy in Medan on Tuesday, said his children paid nothing to travel on the ill-fated aircraft
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span class="inline inline-center">Sahala Sihotang, father of 24-year-old Ruly and 17-year-old Reni who are feared dead after the Hercules C-130 aircraft tragedy in Medan on Tuesday, said his children paid nothing to travel on the ill-fated aircraft.
'The two children were registered by their older brother First Lt. Andi Paulus Sihotang through his fellow Air Force colleague stationed at the air base in Pekanbaru,' he said in Pekanbaru on Wednesday.
He added that according to internal procedures at the Air Force, general Hercules flights were open to soldiers' relatives who registered with the air base's departure lounge.
'Joining Hercules flights requires a recommendation from a relative undertaking active military service,' he said as quoted by Antara news agency.
Sahala said he and his children had several times taken the Hercules flights since his son Andi commenced military service in the Air Force.
'So, it is not the first time we joined a Hercules flight. Ruly enjoyed it twice although his younger sister was doing it for the first time. My wife and I have frequently flown with the aircraft,' he said.
Ruly and Reni were two of 113 passengers on the Hercules C-130 aircraft that crashed into a residential area on Tuesday. All passengers as well as three local residents were feared dead in the tragedy.
Sahala, who looked stoic in the face of his children's deaths, said his son had expressed his deep regret for registering his two younger siblings to take the Hercules flight.
He said Andi was shocked and felt he had to take responsibility for the accident that befell his younger brother and sister.
'My father, it is my fault my younger brother and sister died,' Sahala said, quoting his son Andi. (rms)(++++)
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