Airport mishap

THE Accident Investigation Commission will look into an incident involving a foreign-owned Hercules aircraft and one of Air Niugini’s Boeing 737 planes at Jackson Airport on Saturday, an official says.
The commission’s chief commissioner Hubert Namani, in a statement, said the incident happened at around 3.20 pm.
“At 4.15pm on Saturday, the Accident Investigation Commission (AIC) was informed that the right wing of a United States-registered Lockheed Hercules aircraft struck the left winglet of a parked PNG-registered Boeing 737 when the Hercules was turning on the parking bay at the Jackson Airport freight ramp,” he said.
“The right wing of the Hercules overlapped the left wing of the Boeing 737, then struck and significantly damaged the winglet.”
He said the Hercules freighter was operated by Lynden Air Cargo.
Namani said the accident occurred at the freight ramp adjacent to the Air Niugini maintenance hangar.
The commission immediately started an investigation (AIC 18-1001) with an investigator attending the accident site to gather evidence.
“The AIC has accessed the flight recorders of both aircraft, and these are being analysed at the AIC’s flight recorder laboratory,” Namani said.
“The weather was fine and clear, and there were no environmental impediments to visibility.”
He said a preliminary report would be issued within 30 days.
Meanwhile, the United States Embassy in Port Moresby says it is not aware of the Jackson Airport incident involving the US-registered aircraft.
Public affairs officer Beverly Thacker told The National yesterday the embassy had “no information” on the incident.
Air Niugini could not be reached for a comment last night.