An accident between two aircraft from the same company, LionAir flight JT 197 and Wings Air (a subsidiary of LionAir) flight IW 1252, occurred at Kualanamu Airport in Medan, North Sumatra today. News of the accident was confirmed by the airport’s management.
“Indeed there was a senggolan (minor accident) between Lion Air with Wings Air,” Kualanamu General Manager Arif Darmawan told Detik today.
Arif did not disclose the exact chronology of the accident but said that operations at the airport were otherwise normal without any other interruptions to flight service.
Lion Air Group Public Relations Manager Andy M. Saladin said in a written statement that the incident occurred when the Lion Air flight, which had departed from Banda Aceh, had just landed in Kualanamu. Meanwhile, the Wings Air flight was set take off for Meulaboh, Aceh.
Ground Collision/Runway Incursion between WingsAir ATR72-500 #PKWFF and LionAir B737-900ER #PKLJZ at #MedanAirport #KNOAirport #Kualanamu pic.twitter.com/zl4bqMEuIb
— Gerry Soejatman (@GerryS) August 3, 2017
Andy said the accident occurred when the tips of each plane’s wings collided with one another. He said no passengers were injured as a result of the collision. Photos show severe damage to both airplanes’ wings.
Lion Air has faced numerous accusations of unsafe practices in the past, from leaking fuel tanks to pilots flying under the influence of narcotics.
