Jayapura, Jubi – Following the shooting of a caravan-type Ikaros plane with call sign PK-HVV by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) on Monday morning, January 9, 2023, one of the airlines serving flights to Oksibil Airport decides to stop flights to the region.
Trigana Air decided not to fly its fleet to Oksibil Airport in Bintang Mountains Regency until there was a security guarantee from the local authorities.
“Trigana is still waiting until there is absolutely certainty of security from the authorities,” said Deputy Area Manager of Trigana Air Papua Irwan Rochendi when contacted by Jubi on Tuesday.
According to him, the perpetrator shot the plane that was about to land at Oksibil Airport. Moreover, at the time of the shooting, Trigana Air plane was preparing to take off from Oksibil Airport.
“During the incident, one of our passenger planes was about to take off to Jayapura from Oksibil but postponed because of the shooting. We don’t want to take a risk that can endanger all of us,” he said.
Trigana Air serves passenger and freight flights from Jayapura to Oksibil, comprising two flights of passenger aircraft and three flights of cargo or freight aircraft.
Previously, the PK-HVV aircraft was shot while landing in Oksibil, the capital of Bintang Mountains Regency.
“The incident occurred at around 10:45 a.m. Papua time, when the plane piloted by Captain Tohirin was about to land. They flew from Tanah Merah. The landing was canceled because the plane got shot,” said Papua Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Ignatius Benny Ady Prabowo.
Meanwhile, Bintang Mountains Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Muhammad Dafi Bastomi said his party guaranteed the safety of flights to and from Oksibil. “Until now we still have not received information about which side was hit by gunfire but we will ensure flight activities at Oksibil Airport both planes arriving at and departing from Oksibil,” said Bastomi. (*)
