Govt blamed for plane incident in Madang

By DOROTHY MARK
THE Government’s ignorance of rural airstrips has been blamed for an incident involving a small aircraft in Raicoast, Madang.
A small craft belonging to New Tribes Mission was assisting people in remote Nayudo local level government in Raicoast when the incident happened last Thursday.
Councillor for ward 15 in Mibu village, Fisne Buro said the small craft made its first flight to Madang in the morning and returned.
It was trying to make its second run out of the small airstrip when its tires burst.
Buro said the small aircraft was carrying five bags at that time.
“The pilot was injured and was airlifted by a New Tribes chopper to Modilon Hospital in Madang,” he said.
The New Tribes Mission is looking for ways of moving out the aircraft.
Buro said the airstrip was built by villagers.
“This airstrip is our life and we look after it like our baby without Government support,” he said.
Nayudo spokesman Edwin Baffe said people walked long distances and spent nights in jungles before reaching Saidor station to catch a boat to town.
Baffe said they saw air transport as the best means of transporting their cash crops to the market and getting health and education services.
Madang governor Peter Yama made a commitment to maintain all rural airstrips.
He said Josephstaal airstrip which he visited last week was covered in grass.