Fright of a lifetime flying Air Niugini

By ALPHONSE MUAPI

PNG Electoral Commission media

 

PASSENGERS travelling on yesterday morning’s Air Niugini flight from Port Moresby to Lae and Manus got the scare of their lives when the aircraft developed technical problems midair soon after take-off, The National reports.

The 78 passengers on flight PX 292, from Port Moresby to Lae and Manus, were shaken when the Fokker 100 had to take off and land twice at the Jackson Airport.

The F100 aircraft developed technical problems soon after take-off at 9.45am.

It started experiencing technical problems with its landing gear about 10 minutes into the flight when the aircraft was about to cruise over the Owen Stanley Ranges.

The captain, trying not to cause panic among passengers, calmly announced over the aircraft’s public announcement system that, due to technical problems with some of the aircraft’s flight equipment and for the safety of passengers, he had to return to Port Moresby.

The plane landed safely at 10.15am at the Jackson Airport. Airport fire and rescue trucks were on standby at the PNG Defence Force air wing.

On arrival, passengers were advised by the captain not to disembark as Air Niugini’s ground staff (aircraft engineers) would have a look at the aircraft’s landing gear and clear the aircraft for a second take-off (departure).

After 45 minutes, the all-clear was given for the plane to fly. However, just five minutes after take-off from Jackson Airport, the captain’s voice came on again, apologising and advising that, unfortunately, they could not make it to Lae because the problem with the landing gear had re-occurred.

The plane was back on the ground at 11.30am.

During the second landing, a female passenger sitting in row 13 fumed, and said in Tok Pisin: “Festaim mipela kamdaun na mi tok long mipela go daun na kalap long narapela balus, tasol yupela no sapotim mi. Nau, lukim wanem samting kamap (the first time we landed, I said we should all leave this aircraft and board another. However, nobody supported me and, now, see what has happened).”

Passengers were all advised to disembark after the “second arrival”, and they did so calmly with some anger.

Luggages were also unloaded from the faulty PX 292 to another F100 aircraft that departed Port Moresby for Lae at 12.15pm.

“I got a scare of my life and decided not to board the other aircraft to Lae.

“I came out of the boarding lounge, caught a cab and went straight home,” Alphonse Muapi, writer of this story, said.

A statement released later to the media by Air Niugini’s corporate affairs department said there was no emergency landing at the airport.

“We wish to confirm that PX 292 from Port Moresby to Lae and Manus was delayed due to a technical defect and the situation did not require an emergency landing but to return to Port Moresby.

“The aircraft, after take-off, encountered an anti-skid defect and the pilot in command applied the standard operating procedures by electing to return to Port Moresby,” the airline stated.