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Category: News
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Published: Thursday, 18 October 2018 13:50
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Written by Bill Jaynes
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By Bill Jaynes
The Kaselehlie Press
October 10, 2018
FSM—On Friday morning, September 28, Air Niugini flight PX 073 crash landed in the lagoon short of the runway in Chuuk. I was aboard. It was the worst experience in my life but I am glad to be alive, thanks in large part to Chuukese locals who risked their own lives to save us passengers.
“I” is a very strange letter when it stands alone in a news article. “I”’m not sure I know how to handle that particular letter as a journalist but then “I”’ve never been involved in a plane crash before. “I” still don’t know how to handle that fact, neither in my life nor in this article. Still, “I” know, and have heard from many, that despite the fact that my face and voice were all over international news for almost a week, people will want to hear from me, though “I” most certainly was not the only passenger aboard nor even close to the most significant. I just ended up being one of the most visible. It’s such a strange situation in so many ways and I’m not sure I know how to handle it. Maybe I never will.
From the Top
I’ll start at the beginning.
The Indonesian government, who recently reached out to the FSM after many years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, invited me and a few other Pacific Islands journalists for an informational tour of their country. I was heading to Indonesia when I boarded Air Niugini, flight PX 073 on the morning of September 28 after finally having received my flight arrangements only a day and a half earlier.
I was the last passenger through the security checkpoint before they said it would close. The flight crew started arriving ten to fifteen minutes later. The flight was scheduled to depart at 8:50 but at that time, boarding hadn’t even begun.
Once aboard, my seat, 24F on the right side of the rear of the plane was comfortable and the flight attendants were courteous and pleasant. The safety briefing was pretty much like every safety briefing I’ve ever heard with one variance from my experience. Instead of instructing passengers on how to use the exit doors, the briefing said that a crew member would open the doors in the event of an emergency. I thought that was odd at the time but didn’t think much more of it.
Descent begins
When one of the cockpit crew members made the announcement that we were beginning our descent into Chuuk, the flight attendants immediately had the passengers open their window shades, fasten seatbelts and put seats in the upright position. It seemed quite a bit early as there was still 25 minutes left in the flight at that point but it took nothing to comply.
As the Chuuk lagoon islands began to appear among aqua sea set against blue sky and white fluffy clouds, I began to search the lagoon for white caps. The evening before my flight a friend posted a weather report for Chuuk on Facebook that indicated a low pressure system with possible cyclonic activity so I was vigilant. It carried a travel advisory for boaters. I don’t know what I thought I’d do if I saw white caps but the lagoon was calm so I relaxed into the descent.
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Category: News
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Published: Wednesday, 17 October 2018 13:16
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Written by Bill Jaynes
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By Bill Jaynes
The Kaselehlie Press
October 11, 2018
Pohnpei, FSM—Pohnpei has filed criminal charges against Iso Nahnken of Nett, Salvador Iriarte alleging criminal solicitation based on a speech that he gave on the grounds of the Kolonia Public Market on August 31, 2018. August 31 was the day by which, according to notices issued by the Attorney General’s office, occupants of the Public Market were to have vacated or face legal action.
A crowd gathered in force on that day, apparently expecting a confrontation that was never planned to have happened. Instead, on that day, the Attorney General’s office filed civil actions in Pohnpei Supreme Court against all presumed trespassers on the property.
Though the charges against Mr. Iriarte were filed a month ago, the court did not, until recently issue a penal summons. Mr. Iriarte had not been aware of them until the penal summons was issued and served on him. His arraignment is scheduled for today in the Pohnpei Supreme Court.
The charges allege that Mr. Iriarte, “with intent to promote or facilitate the commission of a crime, commands, encourages or requests another person to engage in conduct that causes the result specified by the definition of the crime, or engages in conduct which would be sufficient to establish complicity in the specified conduct or result, did then and there, willfully and unlawfully deliver a public speech encouraging the people that were unlawfully occupying the Kolonia Public Markets to defy notices to vacate the properties belonging to the State of Pohnpei and commanded the people to remain on the properties, a crime in violation of Title 61, Chapter 4, Section 103 (1) of the Pohnpei State Code.”
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Category: News
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Published: Thursday, 18 October 2018 13:18
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Written by Bill Jaynes
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By Bill Jaynes
The Kaselehlie Press
October 10, 2018
Pohnpei—In late September, Paul Hadik, CEO of Pacific Resources for Education and Learning sent a heads up to The Kaselehlie Press that he was sending his “A-Team” to Pohnpei. While here his “A-Team” planned to meet with both the Executive and Legislative Branches of the National government. The team was to be composed only of highly skilled, educated and experienced Micronesians in their various fields.
He said that team members would include Dr. Vidalino Raatior of Chuuk, Dr. Jojo Peter of Chuuk, Shanty Asher of Kosrae who recently finished a law degree, Jasmine Mendiola of Pohnpei, Yolanda Joab Mori of Chuuk and Pohnpei, Canita Rilometo and Juan Lawrence who are both from Pohnpei.
Hadik said that the purpose of the visit was to “show the new PREL”, a team of Micronesians helping Micronesians.
“We feel that for too long the FSM has hired outside consultants who are overly expensive and very unfamiliar with the region”, Hadik said. “We have also heard the complaints of our college graduates refusing to return home. We think this addresses both issues. PREL is hiring qualified citizens of the RMI, FSM and Palau to do the work that is so necessary to developing the region. These young people have their degrees, work experience and are making names for themselves outside our borders. They know the culture and languages of the FSM and can bring new energy to stubborn problems.”
“I just want people to know that I firmly believe there are highly qualified people from the region who should be given the opportunity to address and solve our own problems,” he wrote after the team’s visit was nearly complete. “I have seen too many outsiders try to do the right thing the wrong way. There exists in the FSM and RMI a large number of amazing people and I want to put them all together and see what we can do. That's the new PREL—‘Micronesians helping Micronesians’.
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Category: News
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Published: Thursday, 18 October 2018 06:45
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Written by Bill Jaynes
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October 10, 2018 at 6:00 PM / No. 7
The aircraft accident investigators from the FSM, PNG and the USA arrived in Port Moresby from Chuuk on Sunday 7 October and immediately commenced work preparing the recorders for data download and subsequent analysis and analyzing records.
PNG AIC is using state of the art download electronic equipment specially brought to PNG from Canada for this accident investigation.
Because the aircraft crashed into the Chuuk Lagoon the recorders had been immersed in salt water. The AIC investigators have today completed the disassembly of the recorders to remove the data memory chip boards while they remain immersed in water. They have painstakingly cleaned them in distilled water to ensure no salt water and other contaminants remain on the boards.
The FDR and CVR boards are being dried in an oven for between 18 and 36 hours to ensure all traces of moisture have been removed before being connected to the downloading electronic equipment.
The international teams from PNG and the USA have been diligently assisting the FSM investigators. The Government of the Federated States of Micronesia is grateful for their support to achieve the best possible safety outcome for aviation globally and particularly in our region.
The FSM Government is pleased to learn that the PNG AIC is buying the 21st century technology MARS recorder download and analysis system and the Insight Flight Animation Software. This will ensure the AIC is at the cutting edge if this technology and will be equipped to conduct flight recorder downloading and analysis for years to come. This is vitally important for aviation safety throughout Pacific Region.
Official update to the media will be issued by the FSM Investigator in-charge.
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Category: News
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Published: Thursday, 18 October 2018 12:54
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Written by Bill Jaynes
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Corporate Communications Department, Air Niugini
Air Niugini Board, Management and staff together with some members of the diplomatic corps attended a memorial service at Air Niugini Headquarters in Port Moresby this morning (Friday 05th October) to mark the passing of seven days since the tragic accident of flight PX-073 and to express sympathy towards the passenger who lost his life.
Prayers were offered for the deceased passenger and his family, as well as the survivors, before a minute's silence was observed. Our staff also attended memorial events at the crash site in the Chuuk lagoon and the hospital where injured passengers are being treated. The Governor and Lt Governor of the State of Chuuk also led the Chuukese communities in this period of silence.
Similar events were observed by all Air Niugini staff throughout our network in both domestic and international offices as well the General Sales Offices.
During the memorial, Deputy Chairman of Air Niugini Board, Mr Andrew Nui spoke of the sad loss of one of the passengers from the flight and asked for those attending to remember both him and his family in their prayers.
He also wished a quick recovery for those passengers being treated in hospital for their injuries. Mr Nui also took time to thank both local islanders on Chuuk and the US Navy team who went out into the lagoon to assist passengers and crew.
“Their courage and quick thinking helped save lives and our thanks and gratitude goes out to all of them.” Mr Nui concluded
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Category: News
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Published: Thursday, 18 October 2018 13:02
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Written by Bill Jaynes
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Corporate Communications Department, Air Niugini
Air Niugini has confirmed that, yesterday Sunday 7 October, the repatriation of the body of the deceased passenger from PX 073, Mr Eko Cahyanto Singgih began the trip to his family's home village in Java, Indonesia.
On Sunday morning, at Chuuk airport a little before 04.30 local time, government representatives from the highest levels of the Federated States of Micronesia attended a solemn ceremony as the body was boarded onto Flight PX 5071 for the first part of the journey to Port Moresby, arriving at Jacksons International Airport at little over 3 hours later.
At the airport, the casket was met by representatives of Air Niugini and was then taken to a funeral home in Port Moresby; the casket remained there briefly until it was placed on our flight to Singapore this afternoon (Monday 08th Oct) and later onto Indonesia.
A specialist team brought in by the Airline will accompany the body throughout the entire repatriation journey to Indonesia; in addition, some Indonesian employees of Air Niugini will also make the journey to ensure the family of Mr Eko Cahyanto Singgih have all the help they need at this most difficult time.
Air Niugini understands the importance of air travel to the region and keeping commitments to our valued customers. We want to reassure you that safety is always the paramount part of our commitment.
Air Niugini, as a member of International Air Transport Association (IATA), has for the last 9 years also been part of IATA’s prestigious and comprehensive Operational Safety Audit.
In keeping with the objectives of the Operational Safety Audit, following the accident Air Niugini has undertaken a full risk assessment review of the Chuuk to Pohnpei route. Having completed that safety review, flights will continue using both our Boeing and Fokker Aircraft.
