Batik Air Experiences Technical Problems, 5 Flight Schedules At Jambi Airport Are Canceled

A number of passengers disembarked from the Batik Air PK-LUT plane who experienced an incident with the front wheel on the runway at Sultan Thaha Jambi Airport (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - A total of five flight schedules to and from Sultan Thaha Jambi Airport were canceled because the runway condition was blocked by a Batik Air PK-LUT plane, which had an incident with front wheels at that place, Saturday.

"Yes, there are five flight schedules affected by the Batik Air incident, all of them are 'canceled'," said Indra Gunawan, Executive General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura II Jambi Airport, as reported by Antara, Saturday.

A total of five travel schedules affected by the closure of the runway at Jambi Airport, including Citilink Jakarta-Jambi PP, Batik Air Jakarta-Jambi PP, and Lion Air Jakarta-Jambi.

As a result of the incident, the Batik Air PK-LUT plane until Saturday night was still in the middle of the runway waiting for evacuation to the apron.

"Tonight we are still trying to shift the plane to the apron, we are still waiting for equipment from Batam," said Indra.

He explained that the equipment was brought from Batam by using an ATR plane to Jambi Airport. The equipment is used to repair damaged parts of the wheels of the Batik Air PK-LUT aircraft.

"Hopefully everything can be resolved tonight, and tomorrow morning we can move the plane to the apron, so that the morning flight can be served," he said.

After the incident, the runway at Jambi Airport was closed and did not serve aircraft arrivals or departures. The airport was only opened for the evacuation process.

"Our airports are 'open' for evacuation purposes only," said Indra.

The Batik Air aircraft registered with PK-LUT with flight number ID-6803 on the Jambi-Jakarta route was forced to return and land on the runway at Sultan Thaha Jambi Airport. The Batik Air plane took off from Sultan Thaha Jambi Airport, at around 13.00 WIB. After about 20 minutes of airing, the plane suddenly returned and landed at the original airport.

Corporate Communications Strategic of Batik Air Danang Mandala Prihantoro through a written statement conveyed that Batik Air flight ID-6803 on Saturday for the departure of the Sultan Thaha Jambi Airport route to Jakarta via Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang had been carried out according to standard operating procedures (SOP) and as well as health protocol guidelines.

In the Batik Air ID-6803 flight, it carried six crew members, 114 adults, two children, and one toddler.