Merpati disaster won't affect flight

Merpati disaster won't affect flight

SEMARANG: The slide of a Merpati aircraft into a ditch after
landing at the Semarang airport will not affect any flight to and
from here, an official said yesterday.

Head of the provincial transportation office Gatot Soedjantoko
told reporters yesterday that no plane landings will be disturbed
by the incident because it occurred about 120 meters from the
landing strip.

He said that the authorities will move the Fokker-28 from the
ditch as soon as transportation officials and the insurance
company check its position.

Seventy-eight people were aboard when the aircraft plunged
into the ditch, breaking it into three pieces. The pilot, the co-
pilot and a passenger were injured.

Director General of Air Transportation Zainudin Sikado said a
preliminary investigation showed that there was something wrong
with the brake system of the Fokker. (har/sim)