MAF halts services in Jayawijaya

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)