ZCZC
BFF-13
AUSTRALIA-PLANE-OVERSHOOT
Air Niugini flight overshoots runway, lands in ocean
SYDNEY, Sept. 28, 2018 (BSS/XINHUA) – An Air Niugini flight, bound for
Port Moresby, has overshot its runway and landed in water, while attempting
to make a stopover on an island of the Micronesian Chuuk State.
Reports of numbers on board vary, although according to local media all
passengers and crew were promptly rescued and are safe, although the aircraft
itself, a Boeing 737-800, is now fully submerged.
Small private boats were the first on hand to assist the downed aircraft,
with authorities arriving soon after.
Images and video posted on social media show local fishermen surrounding
the partially submerged aircraft, close to which life rafts had also been
deployed.
Air Niugini is the national carrier of Papua New Guinea and had recently
expanded its international services.
It is not yet known what caused the crash.
BSS/XINHUA/GMR/1139 hrs