- VIVAnews/Banjir Ambarita
VIVAnews – Another Susi Air aircraft crashed in Indonesia's East Kalimantan province on Wednesday afternoon, April 25. It was reportedly losing contact when crossing the border of Kutai Kertanegara and West Kutai.
Early today, the aircraft was found on the edge of a cliff in Ritan Village, Kutai Kertanegara, with two dead crew members.
Previously, two of Susi Air aircrafts crashed in Papua on September 9 and September 23, 2011.
A total of four pilots and copilots killed in the three accidents. All of them were foreigners.
On 9 September 2011, a Susi Air Caravan C 208 B pk-VVE departed from Wamena to Kenyem in Papua Mountains, fell in Pasema District, Yahukimo. An Australian pilot, Dave Cootes, and a Slovak copilot, Thomas Munk, were killed on the spot.
On 23 September 2011, another Susi Air Caravan aircraft crashed into Mount Wabu in Sugapa, Intan Jaya District, Papua. A New Zealand pilot, Jesse Becer, was severely injured and a Spanish copilot, Albert Citores, was killed during the accident.
The Susi Air airplane had actually touched down the runway. However, a kid walked across the runway.
“The pilot tried to avoid it, but was unsuccessful,” said Susi Pujiastuti, the owner of Susi Air.
The pilot tried to lift the airplane back into the air, but when it turned left, the airplane immediately crashed into Mount Wabu.
“The airplane exploded and smoke came out,” said Papua Police spokesman, Chief. Comm. Wachyono. The kid suffered from a hearing-impairment.
“The child didn’t hear the airplane’s approaching, so he kept walking on the runway,” said David Setiawan, the Secretary of Intan Jaya District.
While the recent accident took place in Kutai. An Australian pilot, Jonathan Willis, died in the accident.
“The airplane attempted an emergency landing, but failed,” said Susi Pujiastuti.
