Merpati 737-300 crashes on landing; aircraft destroyed, no fatalities

Merpati Nusantara Airlines 737-300 crashed yesterday while attempting to land at Rendani in Manokwari in the remote Indonesian province of West Papua. The accident occurred at approximately 9:36 a.m. local time, according to the Aviation Safety Network. The runway was described as being wet owing to drizzle. There were no fatalities but the number of injured was put at between 20 and 78 by various press reports. The flight, carrying 109 passengers and crew, originated in Sorong, also in West Papua. The aircraft skidded on landing and ran off the end of the runway before crashing into a creek. ASN said the 737 hit a bridge, causing the fuselage to break in two.

Merpati is a government-owned airline that has had 37 major crashes since 1971, including 21 that involved fatalities. Last August a Merpati Twin Otter disappeared in Papua and its wreckage was found two days later; all 16 passengers and crew aboard were killed. The domestic airline is on the EU blacklist. It operates 14 aircraft to 25 destinations.