The conclusion was made by a team of investigators from the National Committee of Transportation Safety (KNKT) which had come to Sultan Kasim II Airport of Pekanbaru after two Lion Air passenger planes had skidded on landing on two successive days last week.
After the second incident , the airport management cleaned the runway using 1,500 liters of chemicals substance at night as recommended by the KNKT team, the General Manager of Sultan Syarif Kasim II, Anggono Raras said here Tuesday.
Although the official statement from the KNKT about the major cause of the incident is not yet announced, the investigator team said the slippery runway as one of the factors that caused two Lion Air planes skidded, Anggono said.
Previously, two of Lion Air planes, both are Boeing 737-900 ER, were skidded on Monday (Feb 14) at 09.15 p.m. of local time and Tuesday (Feb 15) at 05.45 p.m.
The first plane, registration PK-LFI, coming in from Jakarta was skidded on Monday, while the second one, registration PK-LHH, coming in from Medan underwent a same incident on Tuesday.
The airport was closed during the evacuation, but there is no casualty from both incidents.
"We have done what the investigator team asked, but we are certain that there must be another factor that caused the planes skidded despite the slippery runway," Anggono said.
Three investigators from the KNKT, assisted by two officials from the Airworthiness Directive and Airplane Operation Office (DKUPPU) of Transportation Ministry are conducting investigation about the Lion Air incident.
The investigation team could not state the major cause of the incident yet.
However, the KNKT Chief, Tatang Kurniadi has issued six recommendations in view of the performance of three institutions which are regarded to be responsible for the incident.
"I have just signed the the recommendation and i will give it to the transportation Ministry tomorrow," Tatang said.
(Uu.KR-AES/HAJM/O001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
