ID :
54531
Thu, 04/09/2009 - 11:03
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/54531
The shortlink copeid
AVIA STAR CRASHES ON MOUNT PIKE IN PAPUA
Jayapura, April 9 (ANTARA) - A small-bodied Avia Star aircraft which took off at 6 a.m local time at Sentani airport, Jayapura, and expected to arrive at Wamena airport of Jayawijaya district at 7 a.m, crashed on Mount Pike, about 15Km from Wamena airport, witnesses said.
Maskur Adam, an eye witness at Wamena airport, said he saw the Avia Star plane circled Wamena airport several times before it disappeared.
"The plane must have crashed because we saw a column of black smock and a fire flame licked into the air on Mount Pike near Wamena," he said on Thursday morning.
He said he also saw airport officials preparing an ambulance, fire trucks and litters.
In the meantime, Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu, who was initially scheduled to fly with the ill-fated aircraft, escaped the accident after he canceled the plan.
The governor had planned to fly with the aircraft to monitor the legislative election activities in Wamena.
"The governor and the party were initially scheduled to fly with the Avia Star airplane to Wamena to monitor the polls but he later cancelled it," Spokesman of the Governor office Mathias Refra said.
He said that the people of Papua knew that the governor would fly with the plane after casting his vote in Jayapura.
"Therefore, many people called us asking information about the governor as they heard the plane had crashed," he said.
There are no immediate information on the number of people aboard and the cause of the crash.***
Maskur Adam, an eye witness at Wamena airport, said he saw the Avia Star plane circled Wamena airport several times before it disappeared.
"The plane must have crashed because we saw a column of black smock and a fire flame licked into the air on Mount Pike near Wamena," he said on Thursday morning.
He said he also saw airport officials preparing an ambulance, fire trucks and litters.
In the meantime, Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu, who was initially scheduled to fly with the ill-fated aircraft, escaped the accident after he canceled the plan.
The governor had planned to fly with the aircraft to monitor the legislative election activities in Wamena.
"The governor and the party were initially scheduled to fly with the Avia Star airplane to Wamena to monitor the polls but he later cancelled it," Spokesman of the Governor office Mathias Refra said.
He said that the people of Papua knew that the governor would fly with the plane after casting his vote in Jayapura.
"Therefore, many people called us asking information about the governor as they heard the plane had crashed," he said.
There are no immediate information on the number of people aboard and the cause of the crash.***
