19 Jun 2017

Plane forced down in West Papua

3:39 pm on 19 June 2017
n this photograph taken on July 5, 2011 two Susi Air pilots (R and 2nd R) refuel a Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft in Pangkalanbun, Central Kalimantan province.

A Susi Air aircraft refueling. This was not the plane forced down. Photo: AFP

A plane transporting police and election organisers was forced to land in Indonesia's Papua region after it was hit by gunfire on Friday during local elections.

The Jakarta Globe reports the light aircraft operated by Susi Air made an emergency landing at Kota Mulia Airport in the district of Puncak Jaya.

The paper reports an unidentified group opened fire hitting one of the plane's tyres and the rear of the fuselage but there were no injuries.

Papua police say the group fired on the plane as it was on its way to deliver voting materials and a second delivery was cancelled following the incident.

The Globe also reports three police officers were injured after being struck by arrows during a clash between supporters of rival candidates participating in the local election in Puncak Jaya.