Jambi. Two flights from Jakarta to Jambi were diverted to Batam and Palembang on Sunday after thick haze sharply reduced visibility around Sultan Thaha Saifuddin Airport, airport operator Angkasa Pura said.
The two aircraft were diverted to other airports for safety reasons, according to Angkasa Pura Jambi General Manager Ardon Marbun.
The first affected flight was Batik Air ID 6804, operated with an Airbus A320 registered as PK-LAT and carrying 138 adult passengers and one infant.
The flight was scheduled to arrive at Sultan Thaha Saifuddin Airport at 10:40 a.m. However, at 10:45 a.m. Western Indonesia Time, air traffic controllers informed airport officials that the aircraft had been diverted to Batam after visibility fell to 1,000 meters due to thick haze.
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The second flight was Super Air Jet IU 842, also operated with an Airbus A320, registered as PK-STZ. The Jakarta-Jambi flight was carrying 120 adult passengers and one child.
It was scheduled to arrive at 11:25 a.m., with an estimated arrival time of 11:31 a.m. However, as conditions around the runway failed to improve, the flight was diverted to Palembang.
Ardon said visibility at Sultan Thaha Saifuddin Airport remained at a safe level of around 5,000 meters at 9:30 a.m. before deteriorating to just 1,000 meters an hour later. Visibility remained at that level until 11:30 a.m.
Conditions subsequently improved, with visibility recovering to 3,500 meters, airport authorities said.
A Garuda Indonesia flight from Jakarta was later able to land safely in Jambi at 1:44 p.m.
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