Check 2 MAF Aircraft Passengers, Papua Police Dig Into Motives To KKB Involvement

Papua Police Chief, Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw (Evarukdijati / ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Polres Nabire and Polres Intan Jaya are investigating the identities of two passengers on the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) plane. This investigation is to determine whether the burning of the plane piloted by Alex Luferchek happened by chance or was planned.

This was the statement made by the Papua Police Chief, Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw in Timika, Papua, Friday, January 8.

"We are currently checking who the two passengers chartered the plane, whether it is the traditional leaders there or are they ordinary people or something else," Paulus said.

Apart from passengers, the inspection also targets the items being carried. This is important to ascertain whether the twin air type aircraft is chartered or chartered by the people responsible.

"Do not let there be indications of deliberately carrying goods, but the KKB (Armed Criminal Group) has been waiting," said Paulus.

Kampung Pagamba Airport, Mbiandoga District, Intan Jaya Regency, which was the location for the burning of the aircraft, was difficult to reach by officers. With this condition, the officers find it difficult to reveal the true incident.

Including, continued Paulus, the pursuit of the KKB who was suspected of being the actor in the destruction and burning of the aircraft.

"In fact, the location of the village is difficult, there are maps. People say that only a piece of land can only be passed by this MAF plane. We have a little trouble because this area is difficult to reach. The Head of Intan Jaya Police has yet to report," he said.

Kapolda asked the Nemangkawi Task Force there, who had indeed joined the related unit, to enter the scene. "We are waiting for the development of information from the Head of Intan Jaya Police," he explained.

The twin air MAF was set on fire by a group of people claiming to be part of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TNPB).

Luckily, the seven passengers and pilots in the incident that took place in Biandoga District, Intan Jaya Regency, Papua, Wednesday, January 6 yesterday, survived.

Head of Information at the Joint Defense Areas Command III (Kapen Kogabwilhan III) Colonel Czi IGN Suriastawa said the incident started with a provocation.

"It was provoked by the community, there were OPM members who provoked the incident," he explained in Jakarta, Thursday, January 7.

The plane was originally about to take off from Kampung Pagamba Airport to Nabire Regency. However, due to bad weather the flight was delayed. This thing that made passengers angry was triggered by TNPB provocation to residents

"After that (after being postponed) going to leave, the people who were riding came in, made people worried, increased the number of passengers and made noise," he explained.

They then attacked the pilot and the passengers. But the victims survived after local church leaders took them to safety. But the plane they were about to board was destroyed by fire.

MAF Base Manager Nabire Paul Iswanto confirmed the burning incident of the plane on Wednesday. Paul said the pilot and passenger were safe. "But they are still traumatized," he said in Nabire Regency, Papua, today.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Head of the Nabire Police, Kompol Samuel Tatiratu said that he was still waiting for an official report from the members who were dispatched to the scene.