Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The Indonesian Air Force successfully evacuated 26 citizens from Nepal using a Boeing 737-400 aircraft, which is expected to arrive at Halim Perdanakusumah Airport in Jakarta on Wednesday night.
The Air Forces plane departed from Tribhuvan Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, which was hit by a 7.9-magnitude earthquake on April 25, on Wednesday morning.
Besides carrying the 26 citizens, who either lived in or were visiting Nepal, the military aircraft also has 30 members of the evacuation team and journalists onboard, Commander of the Evacuation Mission Team in Nepal Lieutenant Colonel Pilot Indan Gilang said.
The 26 rescued Indonesians are Winarti Karyono, Nilima Bhusal, Bagus Bhusal, Ari Isyanawati, Ruben Jung Thapa, Samini, Safiyya Thapa, Maya Apriyani, Binod Waiba, Rania Salim Mukhsin, Ahmed Muhamed Abdelhay, Hutoun Zahirah Ahmed Mohamed and Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed.
Also Nani, Jeetendra Rai, Buniati, Ayomi Amindoni, Tessi Ananditya, Sapta Hudaya, Oliver Hancock, Familia Novita, Nuri Arunbiarti, Rio Agustiawan Wijaya, Maryatun Tamang, Anisha Tamang and Ronasih.
However, six Indonesians are still missing and have yet to be found in Nepal.
So a team comprising personnel from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, three air force special forces personnel, volunteers from the Taruna Hiking Club, the Wanadri Hiking Club and Mer-C are still in Nepal to continue the search.
"I am proud that this mission was conducted successfully and went according to plan. I hope the flight arrives safely in Indonesia," Lieutenant Colonel Pilot Indan Gilang remarked.
The Boeing 737-400 military aircraft will be flying for seven and a half hours along the Kathmandu (Nepal)-Dhaka (Bangladesh)-Sultan Iskandar Muda (Banda Aceh)-Halim Perdanakusuma(Jakarta) route.
The flight is scheduled to arrive at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta at 7:30 p.m. (WDY)
