Merpati Missing in Papua

Jayapura -- World in Papua return flight experience. This time a commercial plane, ie the type of Twin Otter aircraft owned by Merpati maskapi flight with flight number and the number MZ 9760D stomach PK-NVC is missing from the Sentani Airport Oksibil, the capital of Kabupaten Mountain Stars.

Aircraft unlucky to lose contact after 15 minutes separated from the substratum Sentani Airport. A small plane is leaving at 10:28 WIT with 15 people consisting of 12 passengers, 2 infants, and 3 crew aircraft.

When starting at around 10:28, the plane in normal conditions. Should the plane should have landed at 11:05 WIT as the time between the Sentani and Oksibil only takes about 1 hour and 04 minutes.

"So we got information that some minutes after take off from the Sentani Airport officials have reported that the plane lost contact," said Head of Flight Safety Sentani Airport, Suparno SSos MM, Sunday (2 / 8) yesterday.

"It should have arrived, but until now we have not yet hear," connect Suparno. This plane lost contact on the 53 Nautical Mile (NM) to the Airport Oksibil.

According to the newspaper after Suparno is received, through the airport tower officials continue to make coordination with other airport, but not until yesterday evening said that the plane has landed in one of the airfield.

"We also had difficulty because the weather is very ugly, so the communication, especially SSB depending on the weather," he explained. Suparno said the plane for large distance jelajahnya can reach a height of 24,500 feet, while for the Twin Otter is only 9500 feet.

Suparno but can not ensure the newspaper. "I also hear that but as I dare not say is true or not true, this information is still our dalami," augment him.

Head of Public Relations Polda Papua Kombes Rianto Pol Drs Agus JPNN when contacted via phone selulernya, confirming reports of aircraft owned by Merpati Twin Otter has lost contact.
He estimates that the Twin Otter aircraft is already entering the area Oksibil District Mountain Star, based on when the last contact.

PR Kabid add at this time, the coordination efforts carried out with the Department of Transportation and the Province of Papua Jayapura Lanud to conduct the search for Merpati Twin Otter aircraft lost contact.

Danlanud who is also Head of Jayapura Jayapura SAR Colonel GNI Suwandi Miharja reluctant suspect guess, surmise or estimate the location of the plane fall. He still does not know the exact location of the point and the plane Coordinated fall. For, everything is still in the process of search.

To Suwandi said the first step will be done is find the location of the plane fall, after the location is found then the search will continue with the team down the personnel of the SAR for the evacuation process is done.

"Tomorrow morning (today) we will do the search point location with the involvement of five aircraft, including aircraft owned by the TNI AU Cesna. We just pray hopefully tomorrow the weather is good, so the search process can be either a maximum."