PAPUAAROUND – The PK-BVY aircraft belonging to Susi Air was burned at the Paro Airport, Paro District, Nduga, Central Papua. It was revealed that the Susi Air plane was burnt by the KKB.
Susi Air representative, Donal Fariz, revealed the chronology of the Susi Air plane that was burned by KKB terrorists in Nduga, Papua. Donald said the plane caught fire at 06.35 WIT this morning.
Initially, the Susi Air Pilatus Porter PC 6/PK-BVY aircraft lost contact at Paro Airport at around 06.17 WIT while flying the Timika-Paro-Timika route carrying 5 passengers and baggage with a total load of 452 kg.
Two hours later, Susi Air found the plane at 09.12 WIT in an active ELT position. After that, the company implemented an emergency situation internally by sending another plane to check the location of the plane and it was found burning on the runway.
Papua Police Chief Kompol Mathius Fahiri said there were five passengers on board, including a baby. Mathius also said that the plane was piloted by Captain Philips M who is a New Zealand citizen.
He explained the names of the five passengers on the Susi Air plane, namely Demanus Gwijangge, Minda Gwijangge, Pelenus Gwijangge, Meita Gwijangge, and Wetina W. Following are the facts about the Susi Air plane that was burnt by KKB :
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KKB Burns Susi Air Plane
The Susi Air plane with flight number SI 9368 caught fire at the Paro airport. The Armed Criminal Group (KKB) allegedly set fire to the plane.
“It is true that there have been reports of a plane belonging to Susi Air that was burnt by the KKB in Paro, Nduga Regency,” said Inspector General Mathius as reported by Antara.
Until now, the police do not know for sure about the pilot and the five passengers on the plane. It is suspected that the pilot and passengers were taken hostage.
“The fate of the pilot and five other passengers is not yet known,” he said.
Pilot and Passenger Hostage by KKB
The fate of the pilot of the plane is still unknown. Inspector General Mathius admitted that he had not received certainty regarding the condition of the pilot and the other five passengers.
“The fate of the pilot and five other passengers is not yet known,” said Mathius in Jayapura.
Meanwhile, Pangdam XVII/Cendrawasih, Major General Muhammad Saleh Mustafa said, Captain Philips, the pilot of the Susi Air plane, was brought by the KKB group led by Egianus Kogoya (EK).
“(The pilot of the Susi Air plane) was brought by the EK group,” said Muhammad Saleh as quoted from detikSulsel.
Muhammad Saleh also said that the passengers on the plane were brought by KKB. However, he did not explain the current condition of the pilots and passengers of the aircraft.
“We are currently checking how many people are brought by EK,” he said.
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Joint Team Intervenes
National Police Chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo said that currently his team is looking for the pilot of the Susi Air plane that was set on fire by the KKB group in Nduga Regency, Central Papua. Updates regarding the search process will be delivered later.
“Regarding the developments, the pilot and passengers who were secured by the KKB are currently looking for a joint team from the Carstens Peace Operation,” Listyo said in a press conference broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube.
“Currently conducting search operations. We will inform you about the results later,” he continued.
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Aircraft for the Evacuation of Health Center Officers
Inspector General Mathius explained why the Susi Air plane was burnt by the KKB group terrorists. The action apparently started with threatening the health center staff.
“There were threats against puskesmas workers,” said Mathius.
According to him, the Susi Air plane was originally intended to evacuate health center workers who were victims of threats. But the plane was burned by the KKB.
“We are trying to evacuate. But yesterday the plane that we sent this morning was burnt,” he said.
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KKB Egianus Kogeya Admits Burning KKB Plane
The West Papua National Liberation Army of the Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) or KKB Papua has admitted to burning the Susi Air plane. KKB also admitted to holding the pilot of the plane hostage.
“We TPNPB KODAP III Ndugama-Derakma burned the Susi Air plane, registration number PK-BvY, at the Paro District Airport, Nduga Regency, Papua,” wrote TPNPB in a written statement.
The arson and hostage-taking was directed by Egianus Kogeya. KKB also said they took the hostages out of Nduga.
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