The Jakarta Post, January 12, 2007
Families of Adam Air passengers express relief as wreckage
found
Suherdjoko and ID Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya, Semarang
Relatives of the passengers on the Adam Air plane that disappeared near Sulawesi's
western coast expressed relief Thursday that there was finally firm news about the
plane.
Even though the news was not good, they could only accept their fate upon hearing
that parts of the wrecked jetliner had been found in the waters off Pare-Pare, South
Sulawesi.
They were exhausted after a long wait and an erroneous report, last week, that the
airliner had crashed in the jungle and some passengers had survived.
Round-the-clock television coverage brought news of the discoveries to families in
Semarang, Central Java, and elsewhere.
"I just hope that my daughter can be found as soon as possible, dead or alive," said
Darwanti. Her daughter, Pungky Widiantoro, a young police officer, was a passenger
from Semarang.
Despite the evidence that the plane had crashed, Darwanti clung to the hope that her
daughter was alive.
"I know she got adequate knowledge and experience on how to survive during her
studies at the Police Academy. But I'm sad to see the television coverage, which
showed that the plane was broken in pieces," she said.
In Surabaya, East Java, Rev. Da Silva Hendri Sondaag waited for news of his wife,
Lidya Julian Else Sondaag, and her three-year old daughter, Miracle Saron Sondaag.
"I just want to go to Pare-Pare to check whether there was any baggage that belongs
to my family," he said.
Lidya and Miracle had been on their way to visit relatives in Manado, North Sulawesi.
Hundreds of people flocked to beaches near Pare-Pare, watching and in some cases
joining in as soldiers, police, marines and fishermen searched the sea and combed
the shore.
A piece of a chair that said "fasten seat belt," a food table and part of a tire were
among the objects handed over to authorities.
The jetliner left Java for Manado on the afternoon of Jan. 1. The pilot twice changed
course after battling 130 kph (80 mph) winds, but did not issue a mayday or report
technical difficulties before losing all contact while approaching Sulawesi's coast.
Hundreds of anguished family members have been waiting at airports and hotels since
the plane disappeared, many growing angry and frustrated as searchers repeatedly
turned up empty handed.
"After all this waiting, confirmation that the plane has been found is like being given
water in the desert," said Freddy Sumolang. "I hope rescuers will find my daughter,"
he was quoted by AP as saying
Eki Rumaser, whose brother was on the plane, agreed: "Dead or alive, I just hope
they find him."
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