MAF halts services in Jayawijaya

WAMENA, Irian Jaya: The Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) has suspended flights to remote areas in Jayawijaya district, Irian Jaya, due to reckless behavior from local residents which is threatening the safety of the flights and their passengers.

"Every day locals casually pass right in the middle of the air strip without thinking of the possible dangers to aircraft taking off or landing," Edison Djiko, head of the MAF office in Wamena said here on Wednesday.

According to Djiko the decision took effect on Dec. 30, a day after a MAF pilot was almost killed as he was forced to suddenly maneuver to avoid a person who had walked right onto the airstrip as the plane was about to take off.

"We decided to stop the flights until the air strip is cleared of people passing by," he added.

"We carry basic commodities and construction materials to isolated areas in the regency," he said of the typical cargo the flights carried.

Separately, an operator of Wamena airbase, Atja Juhana, said it is difficult to bar locals from walking on the airstrip.

"They even destroyed the airfield fence and used the wood for firewood," he said. (rms)