Air Force flies stranded passengers

Air Force flies stranded passengers

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Air Force launched a humanitarian
operation, the Air Bridge Operation, at the Halim Perdanakusuma
Airport yesterday, deploying three C-130-type Hercules military
carriers to transport 403 people to Pontianak, West Kalimantan.

Airforce spokesman Col. Bachrum Razir said the passengers were
left stranded for three days at Tanjung Priok Port in North
Jakarta due to overloading on a ship of the state-owned Pelni
line.

The passengers had waited in vain since Friday before the Air
Force decided to lend a hand, Bachrum said.

The passengers were transported in three groups.

The flights were staffed by 11 aircrews and pilots from Air
Squadron 31 based at Halim Perdanakusuma, he said.

Yesterday's operation was not the first for the Air Force,
according to Bachrum.

In 1980, the Air Force organized a nationwide air lift when
state-owned Garuda Indonesia airline was grounded by a crisis.
(aan)