Panic, Anger as Lion Air Plane Overshoots Runway in Indonesia

Jakarta Globe, November 02, 2010

A Lion Air plane, similar to this one, carrying 175 passengers and crew skidded off the runway at Supadio Airport in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, on Tuesday. There was widespread panic but no injuries. Lion Air is defending its handling of the near disaster, despite numerous complaints against the Indonesian carrier. (Antara Photo)

Sungai Raya, West Kalimantan. A Lion Air passenger plane overshot the runway at Supadio Airport in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, and landed in a field onTuesday. There are no reports of injuries.

The Boeing 737/400, flight number JT 712 from Jakarta to Pontianak, was carrying 169 passengers and 6 crew.

A passenger identified as Tomi told state news agency Antara the plane shook three times 15minutes before landing, though the passengers did not suspect anything was awry because the cabin crew made no announcements.

“We thought it’s only because of the bad weather,” Tomi said. “We began to worry when the plane touched down on the runway. I saw from the window that the plane was not stable.”

Another passenger, Priosuprantono, said the plane shook hard before it came to a halt in the middle of field at the end of the runway at 11:25 a.m.

“When the plane stopped, the passengers panicked. We were afraid that worse things would happen. Still, none of the flight attendants or the captain said anything,” hesaid.

The frightened passengers were not able to escape from the aircraft because none ofthe doors were opened, he said, adding that they were finally able to get out of the aircraft when a passenger opened an emergency exit.

“Some of us jumped off the plane in panic,” Prio said.

Indra Rosadi, also on board the flight, said the passengers were evacuated by military personnel stationed at the airport.

“We landed in the middle of a field, 20 meters from the runway,” Indra said.

The National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) confirmed the accident, saying bad weather was likely not a factor. “You can’t blame the weather or the rain,”KNKT official Masruri said.

Edward Sirait, a spokesman for Lion Air, told the Jakarta Globe that there was no announcement prior to the landing because the “fasten seatbelt” warning had been activated.

He described the landing as “normal” but for unknown reasons the plane could not stop.

Asked about the reported lack of information relayed to passengers after the crash landing, he said he could not comment.

“Emergency exits can be opened by passengers, not only by flight attendants. That is why we don’t allow children or physically unfit passengers to sit near the emergency exits.”

The plane had a good maintenance record, he added.

He said he did not believe the incident was related to the Mount Merapi eruption in central Java.

The KNKT is investigating the accident, the latest to hit the Indonesian airline industry.

Antara/JG