TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A man named Mario Steve Ambarita, who infiltrated Garuda flight GA 177 aircraft destination of Pekanbaru-Jakarta through the airplane's tire compartment, was reported to be in a healthy condition. The 21-year-old male stowaway was discovered by airport officials when he came out underneath the aircraft after the plane had landed in Soekarno-Hatta airport on Tuesday night, Apr. 7. “After an intensive medical examination in the Airport Health Office, Mario was declared healthy,” PT Angkasa Pura II spokesman Achmad Syahir said in a statement.
Syahir could not yet explain in detail why Mario would want to travel like that. “We are still investigating and coordinating it with Pekan Baru airport authority,” he said.
According to Syahir, the flight from Riau-Jakarta took 1 hour 40 minutes. During that time, Mario was inside the aircraft’s tire compartment and was able to survive the trip until it landed in Soekarno-Hatta airport.
The motive behind the desperate attempt is yet unknown. Chief of Soekarno-Hatta Police Resort, Sr.Comm. CH Pattopoi, refused to give out information related to the matter. “Angkasa Pura II and airport authority has full authority and we have not been involved yet,” Pattopoi said.
JONIANSYAH
