A Twin Otter aircraft registered as P2-AXL with Tropicair veered off the Kerema Airstrip whilst making a landing in Gulf Province yesterday.
The aircraft was unintendedly steered into a ditch on the edge of the Kerema Airstrip towards Kerema Hospital at around 11am.
The aircraft was chartered by TotalEnergies, traveling from Purari with two Fijian pilots and eight employees of Total Energies as passengers including their flight Superintendent, a French national.
The trip was initially made to transit to Port Moresby city after boarding two female Total Energies employees in Kerema to leave on break.
Gulf Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Jeffery Lemb told PNG HAUSBUNG that the aircraft came to a stop in a grassy area beside the airstrip, its nose slightly tilted downward, and tail elevated. No major structural damage or injuries were reported.
PPC Lemb added that the recent strong winds and wet weather may have been the main contributing factor due the aircraft landing in the direct opposite direction of the strong winds coming from the seaside near the airstrip.
Although the pilots did not provide any official statement, authorities believe the recent strong sea winds was the major contributing factor to unsettle such a small plane.
Initial police investigations suggest no mechanical faults or pilot error; however, it was suspected as well that the poor runway conditions and edges of wet grass coupled with the strong winds may have also played a role in the aircraft veering off course during landing.
Meanwhile, 4-hours after the incident, five total energy employees were airlifted to Port Moresby by a Hevilift helicopter, while the other five remain awaiting next pickup to Port Moresby, including the two female employees.
The Fijian pilots remain at the airport to assess their next course of action.
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