PERTAMINA AND JUANDA AIRPORT REQUIRED TO EXPLAIN CATHAY CASE

Jakarta, April 22 (ANTARA) - Juanda airport and state oil company Pertamina officials had been asked to clarify the case of Cathay Pacific aircraft which had engine trouble after refuelling and that the fuel contained a great deal of moisture.

"If the accident was not true, it could be regarded as an insult to Surabaya. But if it was true, it would be the responsibility of Pertamina and the airport port's management in Surabaya," former Air Force Chief of Staff retired Marshal Chappy Hakim said in Jakarta Thursday.

Chappy Hakim who for several times led an investigation into an aircraft accident made the statement in relation to an engine trouble of an Airbus A330-300 flying from Surabaya to Hong Kong on April 13, 2010.

The plane developed engine trouble because it was suspected its fuel contained too much moisture. Consequently, Cathay Pacific decided that its next refuelling would be carried out in Jakarta.

Chappy Hakim who had been appointed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to lead air accidents in Indonesia, said he had yet to receive a report on fuel with too much moisture facing the Cathay plane.

"But it was true, we have to be held responsible," the retired four-star air force general said.

Chappy pointed a clarification must be given by Pertamina and Juanda airport authorities to clear the case of foreign aircraft.

"If the case was true, it may cause us a loss," he said.

The former head of the Air Transportation Accident Evaluation National Team said if the too much moisture in the fuel was a fact, it must not be repeated and firm action had to be taken against the responsible people.

Earlier, CEO of Cathay Pacific Tony Tyler said no priority of the company is higher than securing the safety of passengers.

When the trouble happened, the plane had 309 passengers and a crew of 14, eight of whom suffered injuries during evacuation. The plane had eight Indonesians.

"The plane's engines had too much moisture," a Cathay Pacific official said.