Seven Surabaya-Bound Flights Diverted to Bali

Kuta, Bali, (Antara) - Seven Surabaya-bound flights were diverted to Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali after Juanda Airport in Surabaya was temporarily closed Saturday.

Among the airlines which diverted their flights to Bali were Citilink with flight numbers QG-876 from Pontianak, QG-671 from Manado and QG-920 from Batam, General Manager of state airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, Trikora Harjo, said Saturday.

The others were Lion Air with flight numbers JT-588 from Jakarta, JT-982 from Medan and JT-807 from Makassar, and AirAsia Xtra with flight number XT-393 from Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

Meanwhile, four Surabaya-bound flights from Denpasar were delayed. The four flights were Garuda Indonesia¿s GA-347, Lion Air's JT-916, Citilink's QG-647, and NamAir's IN-9277.  

Juanda Airport in Surabaya was closed for nearly two hours after a Lion Air plane skid off the runway at the airport.

The plane overran the landing strip at the airport at 11.08 a.m. local time, Legal and Communication Officer of state airport operator PT Angkasa Pura in Juanda Surabaya Airport, Liza Anindya said earlier in the day.

"All passengers are safe. They all have been evacuated from the plane," he said.

The evacuation of all 215 passengers was completed at around 12.00, he said.

Because of the accident the airport will be closed until 15.30 p.m., Service and General Affairs Manager PT Angkasa Pura, Didik Tjatur P said in a written statement.

"The airport is closed while airport authorities are removing the body of the plane," he said. (*)
Reported by Dewa Wiguna