Indonesian Jet Loses Piece of Wing on Take-Off

A chunk of wing dropped off an Indonesian passenger plane carrying 144 people minutes after take-off, forcing the aircraft to return to the capital, an airline official said on Thursday.

The Boeing 737-400 operated by Batavia Air landed safely and none of 138 passengers and six crew members were hurt, said Anton Situmeang, a spokesman for the airline.

Situmeang said the plane, which was due to fly to Pontianak on Borneo island, could have continued its journey safely without the part, which measured 40 cm by 50 cm.

"But the pilot decided to return to the airport. It was a standard procedure," he said.

Source: Smh
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