TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Heavy rains in Indonesia's famous Bali Island caused the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport to close down for more than an hour this morning. The temporary closure caused delays, interrupting the schedules of 20 flights.
"For safety reasons, Airnav has issued the Notice to Airman (Notam)," the airport's Head of Public Relations Arie Ahsanurrohim said in Kuta, Monday, June 19.
The Notam is a warning of limited visibility due to rainfall. Ngurah Rai Airport issued the notice to be applied from 07:54 a.m. to 09.30 a.m. local time.
"There were 13 planes that could not take off, and seven others that could not land," he said.
During the airport closure, flight visibility was a short 100 meters. Arie said the minimum visibility for a safe flight is 800 meters.
He said that because of the temporary closure, several planes planning to land in Bali were forced to reroute and land at the nearest airport. "In Surabaya (Juanda Airport)," he said.
BRAM SETIAWAN
