LION AIR FAILS TO LAND AT KENDARI`S AIRPORT

Kendari, Indonesia, April 18 (ANTARA)- A Lion Air Boeing 737-400 aircraft which left Soekarno-Hatta international airport in Cengkareng failed to land at Kendari's Wolter Monginsidi (WMI) airport on Saturday due to bad weather.

The bad weather forced the aircraft to land at Makassar Hasanuddin airport, La Ode Andimuna, one of about 167 passengers aboard the aircraft, told Antara here on Saturday night.

The aircraft with flight number GT728 left Cengkareng airport at about 05.30 p.m. Western Indonesia Standard time (WIB) and was scheduled to arrive at Kendari WMI airport at 09.45 p.m. Central Indonesia Standard time (WITA), but it then turned back to land at Makassar Hasanuddin airport at about 10.15 p.m. WIT, he said.

All 167 passengers were still awaiting confirmed information from the Lion Air side about their further flight to Kendari, Andimuna said, adding that thick clouds covered the sky over Kendari then.

Previously, on February 23, another Lion Air aircraft with
MD-90 type made an emergency landing at Hang Nadim airport in Batam after its front wheel failed to function. All passengers were safe but 30 percent of them suffered shock. ***