Lion Air plane suffers flat tires

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: A Lion Air aircraft has experienced a blown-out tire on Friday upon landing at the Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

The 149 passengers and crew members were unharmed. The aircraft was flying from Jakarta to Manado, North Sulawesi, with the incident occurring during a transit in Makassar at 10.42 a.m. local time.

Lion Air spokesman Hasyim Arsyal Al Habsy said that two of the plane's tires blew out when it hit a sharp object on landing.

Spokesman for airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I, Ade Arin Noenoehitoe, confirmed that the aircraft stopped on the runway of the airport because two of its tires were damaged. But he could not explain how the tires were damaged as authorities were still investigating the case.

Over the past six months, at least five aircraft have skidded on landing at the Hasanuddin Airport. An incident involving a Merpati aircraft in April injured 20 passengers. -- JP