"Flights at Sentani airport have been restored and are back to normal," said the airport`s security chief, Batubara, here Wednesday.
Earlier, the Sentani Airport flight schedule was disrupted for more than an hour as the Garuda Airways plane blocked the airport`s runway.
"Several major flights were canceled after the incident, but small carrier flights were still operating," Batubara noted.
Airport officials report placing stones underneath the plane`s right wheel, which was buried 20 centimeters deep into the dirt on the side of the runway.
Airport workers also used a steel mat in an effort to free the buried wheel and drag the plane onto the tarmac. It took about one hour and fifty minutes to clear the plane from the area, Batubara added.
The plane is reported on standby at the airport and can be flown as usual, though the incident is now under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Committee.
"I have reported the incident to my supervisor. Garuda Airways flight number GA 653 is fully operating and we are now waiting for its arrival at Mozes Kilangin Airport Timika," he said.
The Garuda plane reportedly had 150 passengers aboard when it skidded off the tarmac.
The incident resulted in a number of flights returning to their original airports.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
