Ministers unhurt in emergency landing
Ministers unhurt in emergency landing
JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and
Security Soesilo Soedarman and Minister of Social Services Endang
Kusuma Inten Soeweno survived a scare yesterday when a Merpati
Nusantara aircraft made an emergency landing in Palembang, South
Sumatra.
The two ministers, in their capacity as members of the board
of patrons of the Golkar political grouping, were bound for Jambi
for an election rally when one of the aircraft's engines caught
fire. A total of 78 passengers and cabin crew were on board.
The incident came only three weeks after another Merpati
Nusantara plane crashed on Belitung Island near Sumatra, killing
15 of 53 people on board.
Merpati Nusantara spokesman Tondo Widodo said pilot Dedi
Setiadi and copilot Dwi Mawaskoro decided to divert the Dutch-
made Fokker 28 aircraft to Palembang's Sultan Machmud Badaruddin
II Airport after the engine indicator flashed at about 11:00 West
Indonesia Time.
The aircraft, which regularly serves the Jakarta-Palembang
route and was formerly part of flag carrier Garuda Indonesia's
fleet, was at an altitude of 24,000 feet when the problem
occurred.
"It was common engine trouble which can happen to other
aircrafts," Tondo said.
The state-owned airline grounded the aircraft with
registration number MZ 110, but Tondo dismissed speculation that
all of the company's 29 F-28 aircraft in operation would be
recalled for testing. He said a team of experts and spare parts
had been flown to Palembang.
Merpati sent another F-28 from Jakarta to transport the
passengers to Jambi.
The 25-year-old company has been plagued by heavy financial
losses and allegations of gross inefficiency blamed on tight
control by parent company Garuda Indonesia. (amd)
JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and
Security Soesilo Soedarman and Minister of Social Services Endang
Kusuma Inten Soeweno survived a scare yesterday when a Merpati
Nusantara aircraft made an emergency landing in Palembang, South
Sumatra.
The two ministers, in their capacity as members of the board
of patrons of the Golkar political grouping, were bound for Jambi
for an election rally when one of the aircraft's engines caught
fire. A total of 78 passengers and cabin crew were on board.
The incident came only three weeks after another Merpati
Nusantara plane crashed on Belitung Island near Sumatra, killing
15 of 53 people on board.
Merpati Nusantara spokesman Tondo Widodo said pilot Dedi
Setiadi and copilot Dwi Mawaskoro decided to divert the Dutch-
made Fokker 28 aircraft to Palembang's Sultan Machmud Badaruddin
II Airport after the engine indicator flashed at about 11:00 West
Indonesia Time.
The aircraft, which regularly serves the Jakarta-Palembang
route and was formerly part of flag carrier Garuda Indonesia's
fleet, was at an altitude of 24,000 feet when the problem
occurred.
"It was common engine trouble which can happen to other
aircrafts," Tondo said.
The state-owned airline grounded the aircraft with
registration number MZ 110, but Tondo dismissed speculation that
all of the company's 29 F-28 aircraft in operation would be
recalled for testing. He said a team of experts and spare parts
had been flown to Palembang.
Merpati sent another F-28 from Jakarta to transport the
passengers to Jambi.
The 25-year-old company has been plagued by heavy financial
losses and allegations of gross inefficiency blamed on tight
control by parent company Garuda Indonesia. (amd)