Merpati Air loses wheel
 

Here is another example of the poor aviation safety standards in Indonesia, this time involving a state-owned airline - Merpati Nusantara


Airplane wheel breaks during take-off, no one injured
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 07/06/2009 11:35 PM | National

A Boeing 737-200 belonging to state airline company Merpati Nusantara landed without its rear left wheel at Frans Kaisiepo airport in Biak, Papua, at about 5 p.m. local time on Monday, but no people on board were injured.

Kompas.com reported the wheel of the plane broke during take-off, but pilot Capt. Haryogi decided to continue flying the aircraft, for safety reasons. The plane hovered around the town for 15 minutes to empty its fuel tank before landing.

Merpati's Corporate Secretary Sukandi told radio station El Shinta the plane was carrying 107 passengers from Biak en route Jakarta, via Makassar.

All passengers and the six crew members will be accommodated at a nearby hotel overnight pending the arrival of a replacement airplane. (ewd)