TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jacklyn Grame Paul and Maclean Richard Wayne, pilot and co-pilot of the Australian aircraft that was forced to land at Sam Ratulangi Airport in Manado, North Sulawesi, has finally left Manado on Saturday, October 25, 2014.
As previously reported, both were arrested after their aircraft leaving from Darwin, Australia, was forced to land at Sam Ratulangi Airport in Manado, North Sulawesi for trespassing Indonesian airspace. The Beechcraft 95 plane was en route to Cebu, the Philippines.
Makassar Indonesian Air Force Air Transport Operation Command chief spokesman Let. Col. Andi Arman confirmed the incident, saying that the plane was detected on Wednesday by radar at the National Air Defense Sector in Makassar, South Sulawesi, as it entered East Nusa Tenggara airspace.
Before take off, the Beechcraft 95 was warmed up for 10 minutes.
Commander of Sam Ratulangi Airport Colonel Hesly Paath said that the aircraft has been checked before taking off. He added that both pilots were given permits to leave Indonesia after they met several requirements needed.
In the meantime, Acting Chairman of the Airport Authority for Region 8 Manado Syaefullah Siregar said that permit documents for the aircradt were released on Friday evening; however, according to Siregar, because the Australian aircraft does not have a license to fly in the evening, so they could fly on Saturday morning.
ISA ANSHAR JUSUF
