Minister: Two Garuda flights from Jeddah diverted to Kertajati
Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi stated that two Garuda Indonesia flights have been diverted from Jeddah and Madinah, Saudi Arabia, to West Java International Airport (BIJB) Kertajati in Majalengka Regency, West Java.
“There are two Garuda flights from Jeddah and Madinah that we have diverted to land at Kertajati Airport,” the minister said during an online press conference updating the situation following the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau, monitored from Jakarta on Sunday.
Dudy said the two Garuda Indonesia flights from Jeddah and Madinah were diverted to land at Kertajati Airport because several airports were affected by volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau, including Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten.
The diversion was carried out because Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, which was the original destination for the two Garuda Indonesia flights, was also temporarily closed due to the spread of volcanic ash.
Dudy said the diversion was undertaken as a precautionary measure against the impact of the Mount Anak Krakatau eruption, which has affected operations at several airports.
Based on inspection results using the paper test method, Kertajati Airport has not yet been affected by volcanic ash and is therefore still considered capable of serving flights.
“So far, based on the paper test results conducted at Kertajati Airport, Kertajati Airport has not been affected and remains viable,” he said.
Nevertheless, the minister urged airlines to remain vigilant about dynamic weather conditions should the volcanic ash spread towards the Kertajati Airport area.
In addition to the two Garuda Indonesia flights, the Ministry of Transportation has also opened options for other airlines to use alternative airports that are not affected in order to maintain service continuity.
“So there are two Garuda Indonesia flights estimated to land at Kertajati in about an hour. We are also offering this to other airlines if it is possible to operate flights outside the affected airports,” Dudy said.
A total of six airports have been temporarily closed due to volcanic ash from the Mount Anak Krakatau eruption, which affects flight operational safety.
Initially, the Ministry of Transportation closed five airports: Radin Inten Airport in Lampung, Soekarno-Hatta in Jakarta, Halim Perdanakusuma in Jakarta, Pondok Cabe, and Budiarto Curug in Tangerang.
After further testing at 12.00 WIB, Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung was also declared affected by volcanic ash, and flight operations at that airport were temporarily suspended as well.