Incident in PNG
From the PNG AIC website:Loss of separation occurrence at Kagamuga airport, Mt Hagen, Papua New Guinea involving Mission Aviation Fellowship PNG Limited Cessna 208 aircraft registered P2-NEW and Hevilift PNG Limited Twin Otter DHC6-300 aircraft registered P2-KSI
The Acting Board Chairman of the PNG Accident Investigation Commission (AIC), Captain Aria Bouraga, MBE today announced that the AIC has commenced an investigation into a serious incident involving a Cessna 208 aircraft registered P2-MEW and a Twin Otter DHC6-300 aircraft registered P2-KSI.
Captain Bouraga stated that, “the AIC was notified at 9:09am on 30 August 2022 by CASA PNG about a serious incident involving two aircrafts registered P2-MEW, operated by MAF PNG Limited and P2-KSI, operated by Hevilift PNG Limited. While we were fortunate that there was no actual accident, the circumstances giving rise to the loss of separation will be investigated thoroughly so that the circumstances and contributing situational facts around it are clearly established to prevent future recurrence.”
The MAF PNG Limited aircraft registered P2-MEW and the Hevilift PNG Limited aircraft registered P2-KSI were involved in a Loss of Separation on 26 August 2022 at Kagamuga Airport, Mt. Hagen, Western Highlands Province at about 08:25am. P2-MEW was departing on runway 12 while P2-KSI was on approach to land on the opposite direction, runway 30, creating a potentially risky situation for both aircrafts. According to reports provided to the AIC, there were 13 passengers and two crew members on P2-KSI and one crew onboard P2-MEW.
Captain Bouraga added that “in accordance with the Civil Aviation Act 2000 (As Amended) and pursuant to Annex 13 to the Conventional on International Civil Aviation, the AIC is conducting a full Annex 13 investigation into the serious incident to understand the circumstances and contributing factors for the purpose of improving aviation safety. A team of investigators will be dispatched to conduct on-site activities.”