Balikpapan haze halts flights

Balikpapan haze halts flights

BALIKPAPAN, E. Kalimantan: The thick, smoky haze caused by
forest fires prompted yesterday the delay of several flights at
Sepinggan Airport, an official here said.

Sepinggan Airport head Kuntadi said yesterday that two flights
from Surabaya and one from the province's town of Tarakan did not
land at the airport due to lowered visibility caused by the haze
that has lasted for more than a month.

"The planes had to land in Banjarmasin (South Kalimantan) and
Palu (Southeast Sulawesi)," Kuntadi said.

Separately, the head of the airport tower, Maskon Umawan, said
yesterday's haze was the worst to hit the area, adding that
visibility was limited to under 400 meters, far below the minimum
1.6 kilometers needed. (42)