“At 11:05 a.m. local time, the plane landed and was immediately fired upon,” said Lukman F. Laisa, director general of Air Transport at the Transportation Ministry, in a written statement.
The flight was carrying 13 passengers, including a toddler. In the chaos, passengers fled toward nearby forested areas.
Authorities said the pilot transmitted a distress message reporting gunfire and loss of signal. Police later identified the victims as Captain Egon Erawan and Captain Bas Koro.
South Papua Police Chief Wisnu Perdana Putra said the two pilots were chased, hunted down and killed near the runway. All of the passengers survived.
Footage from the scene shows the aircraft on the runway with doors open and visible bullet damage along the fuselage. Reports indicate a fuel leak from the right wing area was the cause of the distress call.
Indonesian officials have launched a full investigation and announced tighter security around inland airports.
Aircraft Information
Owner/Operator: Smart Cakrawala Aviation
Aircraft: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
Registration: PK-SNR
Serial Number: 208B5358
Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turboprops First Flew: 2017
Age: 9 years
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the deceased during this difficult time.
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