Garuda plane crash lands, passengers get compensation
Garuda plane crash lands, passengers get compensation
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A Garuda Indonesia airplane from Surabaya landed safely at
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Monday after its left-
hand landing gear collapsed as it was taxiing to the runway's
apron.
The passengers, 22 adults and two children, were all
pronounced safe at the end of the one-hour incident.
All the 24 passengers were evacuated to Quality Hotel, located
at Terminal F of Soekarno-Hatta, and were also sent to the
airport's medical center to be checked for injuries.
PT Garuda Indonesia spokesman Pujobroto said that 23
passengers had left the hotel by 3 p.m., while the remaining
passenger continued on his flight to Seoul.
The airline has announced that they would send each passenger
Rp 20 million (US$2,325.60) in compensation to their homes,
starting today (Tuesday).
"Our representatives will visit their houses with the
compensation as a sign of sympathy from the airline," Pujobroto
said.
The GA-073 plane took off from Surabaya Juanda airport at
10:15 a.m. and was scheduled to land in Jakarta at 11:30 a.m. The
plane finally touched down safely at 12:40 p.m. The aircraft was
taken to the Garuda Indonesia hangar for repairs at 3:18 p.m.
Pilot Sindutomo and co-pilot Adrian Banser became aware that
the plane's left landing gear had collapsed 10 minutes before the
estimated time of arrival.
"The plane had to circle in the air for an hour before it
could land safely. The pilots also had to alert air traffic
control, as is the standard operating procedure," said Pujobroto
in a statement.
The F-28MK3000 aircraft, registration number PK-GFT, had
served the Surabaya-Jakarta route twice before it experienced the
mechanical problem.
Garuda no longer has its own maintenance department, as it was
established as a separate company, PT Garuda Maintenance Facility
Aero Asia (GMFAA), in which PT Garuda Indonesia owns 99 percent
shares.
The new company was established in accordance with the
government's 2002-2006 restructuring master plan, under which
state-owned companies have been directed to focus on their core
businesses.
The national flagship dismissed 233 technicians last week for
their refusal to transfer to the new company.