Saudia Airlines Aircraft Terrorized By Bombs, InJourney Airports Runs Contingency Procedures

Illustration: Photo: Doc. ANTARA

JAKARTA - PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia (InJourney Airports) carries out contingency procedures in handling terror bombing Saudia Airlines aircraft with flight number SV-5726 on the Jeddah-Jakarta route.

The plane departed from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang.

However, the pilot decided to divert the landing to the nearest airport, namely Kualanamu International Airport, Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, on Tuesday afternoon, June 17, due to reports of security and safety threats.

PGS Corporate Secretary Group Head of InJourney Airports Anak Agung Ngurah Pranajaya said all InJourney Airports are ready to handle emergencies.

The closest airport when the Saudia SV-5726 passed was Kualanamu Airport. The plane then landed at Kualanamu Airport at around 10:44 WIB to carry out security and safety procedures," he said in an official statement, Selesa, June 17.

At the same time, Soekarno-Hatta Airport and Kualanamu Airport activate an Emergency Operation Center (EOC) consisting of elements of the Airport Security Committee (Airport Security Committee) to ensure that the Airport Contingency Plan procedure runs well and according to regulations.

"The main focus at all times is to ensure the safety and security of all passengers and airport service users," said Pranajaya.

Previously, the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) revealed the chronology of the alleged bomb threat on the Saudia SV-5726 aircraft carrying pilgrims from Indonesia and landing at Kualanamu Airport, Medan, in an emergency.

Director General of Civil Aviation Lukman F. Laisa said that his party had received a report from PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia regarding the threat of a bomb sent by an unknown person through an electronic letter (e-mail) at 07.30 WIB.

Lukman said the e-mail contained threats from unknown people who would blow up the plane belonging to Saudia Airlines SV 5276 on the Jeddah-Jakarta (Soekarno Hatta Airport) route carrying 442 pilgrims. 12 JKS Hajj Group with details of male passengers as many as 207 people, and female passengers as many as 235 people.

"Soekarno-Hatta Airport has activated the EOC Space (Emergency Operation Center) which is the command and control center for emergency control at the airport and contacted members of the Soekarno Hatta Airport Security Committee to gather in the EOC room which will then take steps to handle the threat of bombs on the aircraft," said Lukman.

Lukman revealed the latest information obtained from AirNav Indonesia as the organizer of flight traffic at 10.17 WIB that the Pilot in Command (PIC) informed the JATSC Air Traffic Controller officers to decide whether to divert or divert flights from Soekarno-Hatta Airport to move to Kualanamu Airport in Medan for early handling.

Then, Kualanamu Airport has coordinated with the Regional Airport Authority Office II and activated the EOC and contacted members of the Kualanamu Airport Security Committee to gather in the EOC room to take steps to handle the threat of bombs on the aircraft.

The Explosives Disposal Team (Jhandak) from the police has been contacted and is on standby at Kualanamu Airport to handle security measures according to the provisions," he said.

Then, against Lukman, at 10.55 WIB, the Saudia Airlines SV 5276 aircraft landed at Kualanamu Airport, Medan and was directed to park at the isolated parking position.

Kualanamu Airport has also evacuated Hajj passengers and then Team Jihandak conducted a search of the bomb's presence on the plane.

"The flight security emergency measures taken are in accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of Transportation Number PM 140 of 2015 concerning the Management of the National Aviation Safety Emergency and Decree of the Director General of Civil Aviation Number 22 of 2024 concerning Technical Guidelines for the Assessment of Aviation Security Threats," he explained.

Lukman, if the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of the Ministry of Transportation continues to coordinate with all flight operators, the Airport Security Committee and other related parties until conditions are safely under control.