Gorontalo (Antara Bali) - A Lion Air plane skidded off the runway at Jalaluddin Airport, located in Gorontalo city, on August 6, resulting in the temporary closure of the airport, said an official.
"The Lion Air plane is still on the runway, and other planes are not able to land or depart from the airport. This is the reason why the airport has been closed temporarily," said Ruslie Habibie, governor of Gorontalo.
Habibie added that airport officials have not received confirmation from The National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) to tow the plane off the runway.
KNKT has to investigate the situation before issuing any statement, Habibie said. "I have had a discussion with Tatang Kurniadi, head of KNKT, and he has confirmed that the KNKT team is on its way to the airport," he added.
Habibie hopes the Jalaluddin Airport will be reopened immediately in light of Idul Fitri. Habibie has received complaints from management teams of several airlines on the lack of proper fencing around the airport.
"The management team of Lion Air claims it has seen animals, especially dogs, on the runway. This issue should be addressed immediately," he added. (DWA)
