Fly Lah!

A Merpati Nusantara Xian MA-60, registration PK-MZK performing flight MZ-8968 from Sorong to Kaimana (Indonesia) with 21 passengers, 4 crew and 2 technicians (27 occupants), last reported its position at 13:45L (04:45Z) about 15nm before touchdown and was on final approach to Kaimana's runway 19 when the aircraft impacted waters about 500 meters/1640 feet before the runway threshold at about 14:00L (05:00Z). All occupants perished in the crash.

So far 18 bodies have been recovered.

At the time of the approach there was rain and thick fog, visibility was reported at less than 2000 meters/6500 feet. The airplane was holding for about 15 minutes before commencing the approach.

Upon impact with water the airplane broke up in two major parts and sank to the seabed floor about 30 meters below water surface, the occupants remained trapped inside the aircraft.

No Metars are available.

Kaimana Aerodrome seen from final approach to runway 01 (Photo: Casimiro Kuypers):