Two Die, Five Injured in Plane Crash

Sentani (Antara) - Two died and five were injured when an Advent missionary Cessna aircraft failed to take off and crashed at the Adventist Doyo airfield, Jayapura District, Papua, on Wednesday morning. The pilot, Bob Robert Franklin, a 60-year old American citizen, and one Indonesian passenger, were killed in the accident, stated an officer of the airfield identified as Mus,. "When the plane was about to take off, it hit a bridge and a passing motorist, suddenly," Mus explained. The ill-fated plane, carrying five passengers, a pilot and a technician on board, crashed while trying to take off. The plane also carrying more than 300 kg of cargoes, was scheduled to fly to Dekai, Yahukimo district, Papua. In the morning, heavy rains and strong winds hit Jayapura district. The plane was destroyed in the accident. It was the second flight for the Cessna plane that morning. In a day the plane usually has three flights to Dekai. The American pilot had been living in Sentani with his family since a long time, according to Mus. The airfield is temporarily closed to the public. (*)