Cessna Caravan cargo plane skidded off the runway at Aminggaru Airport in Ilaga, Papua, on Wednesday, forcing authorities to temporarily close the airport to allow for the removal of the aircraft.
The incident occurred when the plane belonging to airline company Jhonlin Air Transport was about to land at the airport at 8:52 a.m. local time.
“We have to close the airport as an operation to empty the aircraft’s fuel tank is underway. It will be later moved to the airport apron. Hopefully, the airport can resume its operations tomorrow [Thursday],” Aminggaru Airport head Dani Joko told The Jakarta Post.
He said the Caravan plane, which carried cargo weighing 1,300 kilograms, departed from Moses Kilangin Airport in Timika, Mimika, to fly to Ilaga. Only the pilot, Capt.Timothy, and co-pilot Deni Bagus were on board.
“There was no fatality or injury in the incident,” said Dani.
It was the third accident in the past two months. Departing from Moses Kilangin Airport, a Caravan aircraft operated by Asia One and carrying 1 ton of cargo failed to land at Aminggaru Airport on Oct.13. Both pilot and co-pilot survived.
A Caribou plane owned by the Puncak administration crashed shortly before it landed at Aminggaru Airport on Oct. 31. Piloted by Capt. Farhat Limit, the aircraft carried cargo weighing 3,130 kg. The pilot and three other crew members, co-pilot Fendi Ardianto and two technicians, Steve David Basari and Endri Baringin, all died.
Aminggaru Airport’s runway is 600 meters in length and 18 m wide. The airport only operates from 6 a.m. to noon every day because smog normally blankets the airport in the afternoon. (ebf)
Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.
Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.