Two Flights To Solo Diverted To Semarang Due To Bad Weather

Illustration - Adi Soemarmo Airport Solo in Boyolali, Central Java, some time ago. ANTARA/Aris Wasita

SOLO - Two flights to Solo had to be diverted to Semarang due to bad weather and heavy rain that had occurred since noon.

General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura I Adi Soemarmo Airport Erick Rofiq Nurdin said that one of the airlines that should have landed at Adi Soemarmo Airport was diverted to Ahmad Yani Airport Semarang, Batik Air on the Cengkareng-Solo route.

"It should have landed at 16.50 WIB, but due to heavy rains it continued to be diverted to Semarang," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, March 5.

In addition, there is Lion Air airline from Denpasar which was supposed to land at Adi Soemarmo Airport at 16.25 WIB which was also diverted to Semarang.

"Currently waiting for the weather in Solo because Solo is still raining heavily. The weather is here, sometimes it rains heavily, stops, it continues to be clear, then it rains heavily again," he said.

The weather between Solo and its surroundings has recently been unpredictable. Therefore, it does not blame the pilot who made the decision to divert the landing route.

"We were also closed here, that's why we landed in Semarang. While waiting for the weather to be good again," he said.

Meanwhile, Lion Air Group Strategic Corporate Communication Danang M Prihantoro said, two flights, namely Batik Air with number ID 7368 departing from Jakarta to Solo and Lion Air numbered JT 925 departing from Bali to Solo, experienced a landing diversion to an alternative airport.

He said the transfer was made to General Ahmad Yani International Airport located in Semarang.

"The main reason for this diversion of landing (divert) is the unfavorable weather conditions at Adi Soemarmo Airport which resulted in short visibility. This inadequate visibility does not meet the safety and operational standards set for flights so that the landing at Adi Soemarmo Airport is considered unsafe," he said.

According to him, the decision to divert landings to alternative airports was taken in accordance with standard operating procedures aimed at ensuring flight safety.

"In the aviation industry, safety has always been a top priority. This decision was taken by the pilot based on information from the flight control (water traffic control) and in accordance with the procedures set by airlines and aviation regulators," he said.

He said the flight was dispatched back from Semarang to Solo after the destination airport was declared safe for flight operations.