Passengers Carrying a Body Stranded for Two Days at Soekarno-Hatta Airport
A number of passengers intending to transport a body to Nias were stranded at Soekarno-Hatta Airport (Soetta) in Tangerang, Banten, for two days following the temporary closure of the airport due to volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau.
One of them was Frengki Lase, a nephew of the late Iwan Zebua, who together with two other family members was escorting the body to be taken to Loloanaa Village, Botomuzoi, Nias. He said Iwan’s body had been at the airport for two days.
“We are actually escorting our late uncle, Iwan Zebua, whom we want to send to Nias to be buried there according to customary tradition, more or less. It is truly quite saddening, because his body has now been at the airport for two days,” Frengki told CNNIndonesia.com at Soetta Airport on Tuesday (8/9).
Frengki said the family had looked into sending the body by sea as an alternative. However, based on the information they received, the sea journey to Nias also risked delays.
“We did ask around and find out whether there were other options, but from the information we received, the sea route also carries the possibility of delays or obstacles on the journey to Nias Island,” he said.
“So whether we like it or not, we have to wait for information from the airport and go by plane, more or less like that,” Frengki continued.
He said the family also had to bear additional expenses whilst waiting for departure. According to him, the extra costs reached around Rp1.5 million.
“Nothing from the airline as yet, but from our own side there are indeed additional expenses that were not part of our plans, amounting to roughly one and a half million rupiah of unplanned spending,” he said.
Frengki admitted the family had still not received any certainty regarding their departure time. Previously, they were scheduled to fly at 06.55 WIB, but the schedule was postponed again.
“There is still no certainty, because we remain quite hesitant. Initially we were informed yesterday that we would fly at around 06.55, but according to the latest information board we will be delayed again by roughly two to three hours,” he said.
He hoped the flight could proceed as soon as Soetta Airport resumed operations.
“We hope that we can depart and fly at around 09.00 in accordance with the newly arranged schedule,” Frengki said.
Soetta Airport had earlier suspended operations temporarily due to volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau. The airport subsequently reopened on Tuesday (8/9) at 00.01 WIB.
Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said Soetta Airport, Halim Perdanakusuma Airport and Husein Sastranegara Airport became active again from 00.01 WIB, whilst Budiarto Curug Airport and Pondok Cabe Airport reopened at 02.25 WIB.
“As of 8 September at 00.01 WIB, Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Banten, Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta and Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung were declared active again. Budiarto Curug Airport in Banten and Pondok Cabe Airport in Banten followed, reopening at 02.25 WIB,” Dudy said in an official statement.
Meanwhile, three other airports were still suspending flight operations due to the impact of volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau until 10.00 WIB, namely Radin Inten II Airport, M Taufik Kiemas Airport and Salakanagara Airport.