For the umpteenth time, a plane has experienced an accident at Wamena Airport in Jayawijaya, Papua. On Tuesday a cargo aircraft belonging to Tri MG veered off the runway for almost a kilometer when it landed at 12:30 p.m. local time. The left wheel and undercarriage of the aircraft had fallen off when the plane touched down.

“The Boeing 737-301 aircraft carried five people, comprising pilot, co-pilot, crew members and a passenger. The plane skidded off [the runway] about 100 meters from its landing point,” Jayawijaya Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Yan Piet Reba told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

The aircraft slipped across a ditch and hit a wall. “It seemed the plane had a technical problem because its left wheel became detached and was left at the runway,” said Yan.

The Tri MG aircraft departed from Moses Kilangin Airport in Timika, Mimika, carrying 15,080 kilograms of cargo consisting of construction materials, rice and mattresses.

The plane was piloted by Capt. Tatang, with co-pilot KH Lee alias Daniel and two engine officers -- Kusandi and Fajar. All of the crew members and one passenger, First Insp. A. Dahlan, survived the incident.

“They managed to rescue themselves, but the aircraft was badly damaged. Both of its wings became detached,” said Yan.

Previously, the same Tri MG cargo aircraft had suffered an incident on April 3. While it was being unloaded at Wamena Airport, all the goods inside the plane were pushed to the back of the aircraft, lifting the nose about meters above the ground. (ebf)

Source:
courtesy of THE JAKARTA POST

by Nethy Dharma Somba

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