Surabaya-bound Passengers Flip in Anger as Lion Air Flight Delays
29 August 2014 15:50 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Passengers of Lion Air flight JT0692 have rioted in protest at gate A4 in Terminal 1 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, earlier this morning. Tension flared as passengers became angry after being told that their flight to Surabaya and Kupang has been delayed due to the late arrival of the aircraft.
The disgruntled passengers were reported to begin verbally assaulting Lion Air's ground staff at the waiting room before diverting their rage to the benches at the waiting room as a Lion Air staff informed [the passengers] that their flight will be delayed for two hours.
"This is unbelievable. I’ve had to rush to the airport to catch this flight," said M. Sidiq, a passenger heading to Surabaya. He was due for an important meeting at 11 a.m in Surabaya, but had to miss it altogether due to the delay.
The executive director of Lion Air, Edward Sirait, claimed to have zero knowledge of the incident at the airport. "I’ll have to check first. I haven’t heard anything," said Sirait.
AGUS SUPRIYANTO | ANDI PERDANA