Birds on Runway; Yogyakarta Airport Closed for 2.5 hours
7 November 2017 11:24 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Adisutjipto Airport or Airport Yogyakarta was closed from 05:00 to 07:30 this morning. The airport's management had to cease operations because there were birds on the runway.
The airport staff took time to evict the birds from the runway, thus disrupting dozens of scheduled flights.
"We do this for the safety of aviation," said Liza Anindya Rahmadia, spokesperson of Anhoasa Pura I of Adisutjipto Airport, Yogyakarta, Tuesday, November 7.
Because of what happened, she said, five planes were instructed to hold back from landing. In addition, five aircraft were requested to delay their flights. Two flights were also transferred to Juanda Airport in Surabaya and Adisoemarmo Airport in Solo.
In the last few days, rain has Yogyakarta's Adisutjipto Airport. As a result, flying termites or 'laron' surfaced from from the surrounding land, serving as food to the birds on the runway.
Birds start arriving early in the mornings to search for large amounts of termites. At night, the larons fly nearby the runway lights.
The airport continues to monitor the birds' activity, and continues to shoo them away from the runway.
"The runway has been re-opened and began operating starting at 07:35 am," said Liza.
MUH SYAIFULLAH
