Dominic Kaumu

Air Niugini General Manager Marketing Dominic Kaumu confirmed with Loop PNG.

Mr Kaumu said the passengers are currently being rescued by locals.  

The plane was scheduled to stop in Chuuk on its way from Pohnpei to Port Moresby.

According to Air Niugini media personnel, the management is currently in a crisis meeting.

Meantime, locals in Chuuk who witnessed the accident have been posting pictures and videos on Facebook.

The pictures show rescuers responding to the crash, to help passengers and crew members to shore.

Two pilots, a loadmaster and a flight attendant were escorted to Mt Hagen by security personnel.

Kaumu said this was their priority as a company concerned for the safety of its staff.

Meantime, a source inside Air Niugini said commercial flights into the highlands region are to two ports – Goroka and Mt Hagen; the rest have been suspended, and that includes Mendi, Tari airport in Hela and Wapenamanda Airport in Enga Province.

On Sunday, 24^th of September, there will be one special flight to Brisbane at 7am specifically for those who wish to watch the grand final.

The same flight will return straight after the match at 10pm on the same day. 

Air Niugini has gone all out to make it possible for SP PNG Hunters fans to travel to Brisbane to witness our home team in the grand final of the Queensland Rugby League’s Instrust Super Cup. 

This was announced yesterday at the Cup launch by General Manager of Air Niugini, Dominic Kaumu, in the presence of officials from the PNG Rugby Football League and SP Hunters.

Kaumu explained this is to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of the Kokoda Trail campaign plus the recently launched direct flights between Port Moresby and Townsville.

The challenge for the Cup will be annual.

This was due to the aircraft’s undercarriage on both sides not being able to release the wheels for landing in Wewak. The aircraft circled Wewak but the undercarriage could not be activated to release the wheels for landing.

This had forced the pilot to return to Port Moresby.

Air Niugini General Manager Dominic Kaumu said the aircraft could not do an emergency landing in Wewak and Madang because of lack of emergency facilities.

He clarified that the pilot did the right thing to return to Port Moresby and advise the Air Niugini Emergency team of the situation.

Tania Malai, who happens to be the 2000^th person to have opened a UATAP account and was automatically selected as the winner.

Malai has won herself a return trip for two to the Federated State of Micronesia on Air N iugini.

Air Niugini General Manager Customers and Markets, Dominic Kaumu when congratulating the winner said as a follow on incentive, Air Niugini will be giving away 4000 free destination points to the next 100 new accounts that will be opened.

General Manager, Customers and Markets Dominic Kaumu made these remarks when signing an agreement with a travel agency in Kieta last Wednesday.

He said the outsourcing of its sales office was part of the airline’s effort to streamline operations, however, its major domestic ports will not be affected.

Kaumu and Manageress of Poonang Travel Agency, Pamela Dasiona signed an agreement in Kieta to seal the handover/take over arrangement.

This brings the total number of offices outsourced so far to three in the Autonomous region of Bougainville.

ANG’s General Manager, Customers and Markets Dominic Kaumu said the online check-in is an internet self-service facility which allows passengers to check in for their flights in advance from the comfort of their homes or any place that has access to internet.  The system is available on Air Niugini’s website (www.airniugini.com.pg).

The office has been relocated to China town near the intersection of Buka town from Patenhai Properties at Hago street. The new office has great facilities including a standby generator and is fully air conditioned. It is one of the few buildings in Buka, if not the first to have glass panels.

Air Niugini General Manager, Customers and Markets Dominic Kaumu when opening the new office on Monday (June 6, 2016) said customer service is very important to Air Niugini and the relocation of the office now ensures customers have easy access to Air Niugini services.

This is due to deteriorating conditions of that country’s runway.

General Manager, Market Dominic Kaumi told LOOP PNG the airline management will meet today to make a decision on the Airline’s weekly service to Port Vila, Vanuatu.

Last week, Qantas suspended their codeshare with Air Vanuatu effectively immediately due to concerns about the country’s international runway at the Bauerfield International Airport..

Air New Zealand has also suspended all flights to Vanuatu.