Indonesia small passenger plane makes emergency sea landing in Papua after engine trouble
A Smart Air aircraft bound for Kaimana was forced to make an emergency landing near Nabire Airport in Papua on Tuesday after experiencing engine trouble, Indonesia’s transport ministry said. All 13 passengers and crew were evacuated safely, with no casualties reported.
- A Smart Air Caravan aircraft made an emergency landing in coastal waters near Nabire Airport after engine problems shortly after take-off.
- All 13 passengers and crew were safely evacuated, with no injuries reported.
- Indonesian aviation authorities are coordinating recovery of the aircraft and follow-up actions.
INDONESIA: A Smart Air Caravan aircraft made an emergency landing in coastal waters near Nabire, Central Papua, on Tuesday after suffering engine problems shortly after take-off, Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation said, with no fatalities reported among those on board.
According to the Ministry of Transportation, the Smart Air Caravan aircraft, registered PK-SNS, was forced to conduct an emergency landing at around 1.01 p.m. local time on Tuesday (January 27).
Initial reports indicated a malfunction in the aircraft’s engine.
Pilot in Command (PIC), Capt. Tania K., decided to Return to Base (RTB) to Douw Aturure Nabire Airport, the ministry said.
“However, as the thrust power continued to decrease, the pilot decided to make an emergency landing at the coastal edge of runway 17 at Douw Aturure Airport,” Director General of Civil Aviation Lukman F. Laisa said in a written statement.
Lukman said all passengers and crew were evacuated safely and transferred to the airport terminal. He added that no casualties were reported in the incident.
Initial information from the ministry stated that 13 passengers and crew members were on board the aircraft at the time of the emergency landing.
Authorities are currently working to retrieve the aircraft from the shoreline, he said.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is coordinating with airport authorities, the airline operator, the military, police and other relevant agencies to ensure the situation remains under control, Lukman said.
He added that the cause of the incident would be examined further, with an investigation to be conducted jointly with the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT).
Earlier reports cited a different number of people on board. Indonesia’s state news agency Antara quoted Nabire Police Chief AKBP Samuel Tatiratu as saying the aircraft, flying from Nabire to Kaimana, went down in coastal waters near the Kaladiri logpond area at around 12.45 p.m. local time.
“It is true that a Smart Air aircraft flying from Nabire to Kaimana went down in coastal waters, and all passengers were reported safe,” Samuel told Antara, adding that 15 passengers and crew were on board.
