One of Papua New Guinea’s pride, a Desh-8 aircraft which is proudly acclaimed as the nation’s flag carrier among other Air Niugini fleets was abruptly burnt down to ash by disgruntled tribemen in Mendi, the capital of Southern Highlands province.
The aircraft was doing it’s normal routine to Mendi airstrip when it was ambushed by aggrieved tribesmen who were disappointed over a court decision on an election petition case for the Southern Highlands provincial seat.
According to reports from witnesses on the ground, the aircraft landed at the Mendi airstrip around midday and was due for takeoff back to Port Moresby when the aggrieved tribesmen stormed into the tarmac and blocked off the plane with a vehicle and set alight the plane.
The Captain and the co-pilot along with the flight attendants were brought to safety with no injury sustained.
However, they are recovering from the ordeal as it was the first of it’s kind in the country’s history. The images of the buring of the plane has gone viral on social media and reached other international news organisations.
There are also reports that the province’s newly built court complex and the private residence of the incumbent Governor William Powi was also burnt down by the disgruntled tribesmen.
Meanwhile, the country’s national airliner Air Niugini through it’s subsidery Link-PNG released a statement this afternoon announcing it’s cease of services to Mendi and the nearby Hela and Enga provinces for an indefinite period.
The government is expected to make a statement soon on whether to declare a State of Emergency in the Southern Highlands province.
Many citizens have expressed dispointment over the incident through various social media platforms.
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