Director of Airworthiness and Operation of Aircraft, MoT, Yurlis Hasibuan in Jakarta speaks “ I am very regret and disappoint due to that accident, “. According to him, the aircraft with register number PK-TXL which serve commuter flight on Papua region have just got approval to flight and operated during 3 days.“ We have called that airline management for clarification “ said Yurlis.
Beside that, we also insisted Express Air Management to do internal evaluation before deciding for re-operation. MoT itself is waiting for result of internal evaluation. It was accident not incident although the cause of that accident not known yet said Yurlis but according to early information the aircraft got into undershoot. When that accident happened the aircraft was loaded 31 passengers and 3 crews, and thanks’ god all of them were save.
Yurlis also explained about the species of aircraft, Domier 328-100 was assembled in German on 1995, it was one from four aircraft which will be planned and operated by express air on the same route. But for the long route distance used Boeing 737. We have done the proofing flight for all routes which they handed in before we released the flight approval.
In connection with that accident, the captain will be grounded, and postponement the flight approval for the same species of the aircraft until clarify and readiness of the airline’s management. Refer to Express Air websites, this was passenger schedule airline, began operate on June 2003, focus to eastern Indonesia covered by two aircrafts Boeing 737 for Makasar, Ternate, Sorong, Manokwari and Sorong destinations. For commuter include Papua, Sulawesi, Maluku and Nusa Tenggara region, Express Air planned and operated six Domier 328 turbo-prop until the end of 2008.
NTSC sent Investigators
Another confirmation chief of air committee, NTSC Frans Wenas said, NTSC has assigned two investigators Sulaiman dan Chairudin to investigate and they will be leaved on Friday (7/11)
Frans also not known yet the cause of that accident which leaved Eduard Osok Airport Sorong-Papua. But the first assumption say “ The Aircraft had a problem on the left landing gear “.
NTSC Spokesman, JA Barata said, The Aircraft was sliped at 01.20 UTC (prox 10.00 IET), resulted nose or mainwheel was broken and the body of aircraft cracked. Therefore all of passengers were saved and then the evacuation being in the process.
