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)