Civil aircraft crashes in Bandung

BANDUNG: A training aircraft owned by the West Java chapter of the Indonesian Aerosports Federation crashed in a yard on Jl. Pasir Kaliki, Bandung yesterday afternoon, injuring its pilot.

An officer at the Husein Sastranegara air base, Neiriza, told The Jakarta Post yesterday that the American-made single-seater aircraft, piloted by Capt. Ginda Rochman, crashed at around 4.30 p.m. while on a recreational flight.

"The aircraft was making an emergency landing, but hit a mango tree in the yard owned by Ibrahim," Neiriza said.

Ginda, an Air Force member, wounded his back and neck. He was rushed to the Air Forces hospital on Jl. Ciumbuleuit.

"The crash has nothing to do with the Air Force despite the fact that the pilot is an officer," said Neiriza.

Bandung police are investigating the cause of the accident which drew the attention of hundreds of people. (11)