Juanda Airport resumes operation following tornado strike: Ministry

 Juanda Airport in Sidoarjo, East Java, resumes operation following a severe weather event, including a tornado, that occurred on Thursday (January 8) at around 2:10 p.m., as informed by the Transportation Ministry.

"All stakeholders worked quickly to secure, inspect, and restore the airport to ensure the safety and smooth operation of flights," the ministry's Director General of Civil Aviation, Lukman F. Laisa, said in a statement 

According to him, extreme weather conditions have temporarily impacted flight operations, including the holding of arrivals and departures along with the diversion of several aircraft to alternative airports.

"All mitigation measures were being carried out in accordance with applicable procedures. Flight safety is a priority," Lukman emphasized.

Several flights to and from Surabaya were recorded as having been held, including those from Lion Air, Garuda Indonesia, and Sriwijaya Air.

In addition, several flights from Balikpapan, Makassar, and Jakarta were diverted to Ahmad Yani Airport in Semarang, Central Java, due to weather conditions that made landing at Juanda Airport impossible.

There were no reports of aircraft damage from any of the affected airlines

On the airside, strong winds caused some ground support equipment, particularly passenger stairs on the apron, collapsed. All incidents have been resolved and did not impact aircraft.

Inspections also confirmed that the runway and apron were clear of foreign object debris (FOD). Air navigation facilities were reportedly undamaged and operating normally, and the airport perimeter remained secure.

In the Terminal 1 area, a fallen tree and a downed sign on the north access road caused traffic to be diverted, but traffic has now returned to normal.

Furthermore, several vehicles were reportedly struck by falling trees in the parking area, but conditions inside the terminal building remain conducive

The recovery process is being carried out with support from Juanda Air Force Base, the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), and internal airport management elements.

Regarding passenger service, airlines and airport operators have implemented delay management in accordance with regulations by updating schedule information on the Flight Information Display System (FIDS), providing announcements to passengers, and providing compensation.

"We ensure that airlines and airport operators handle flight delays transparently and in accordance with regulations, including providing clear information to passengers," Lukman remarked.