Airplane skids off runway

Airplane skids off runway

JAKARTA (JP): A Garuda Indonesia airplane with 20 people
onboard skidded off the runway at Soekarno-Hatta International
Airport here during a predawn landing yesterday. No one was
reported hurt.

Garuda's business affairs official, Arif Hartanto, said
yesterday that an MD-11 aircraft piloted by Dwi Pantara managed
to touchdown on runway 25, but the slippery track propelled the
airplane onto the grass.

Rain was pouring down at the airport as the aircraft, carrying
four passengers and 16 aircrew, completed its flight from
Denpasar, Bali.

All of the aircraft's 10 wheels went onto the grass, but none
of its engines were damaged as they did not touch the ground. The
aircrew led the passengers out of the aircraft through the normal
doors.

No flight delays or traffic troubles were reported following
the accident.

The Directorate of Air Transportation at the Ministry of
Transportation is currently investigating the case, according to
Arif.

The aircraft was one of Garuda's fleet of seven MD-11s
operating since January 1992. Arif said all of the 295-seat
airplanes were airworthy as they had always undergone regular
ground services. All pilots have psychological and ability tests
every six months. (amd)