Violated Airspace On Flight From Honolulu To Singapore

An off-duty U.S. Navy pilot who was flying a civilian airplane from Honolulu to Singapore is being held by the Indonesian Air Force after penetrating Indonesian airspace without the proper permissions.

The Jakarta Post reports that 40-year-old Lt. Cmr. James Patrick Murphy is being held at the Indonesian Military lodgings at Tarakan airport. Mulawarman Milltary Command spokesman Lt. Col. Inf. Andi Gunawan told reporters this week that Murphy is being allowed to "rest in the lodge, but always under tight guard."

Murphy was flying a Cirrus SR20 in Ambalat airspace over the Sulawesi sea when he was intercepted by two Indonesian Sukhoi warplanes and escorted to Juwata airport in Tarakan. He was on leave at the time, and flying the private airplane belonging to Aircraft Guaranty, a company that helps non-U.S. citizens register their airplanes with the FAA.

Andi said that Murphy's preferred route of flight avoided Indonesian airspace, but included the route as an alternate in case there was weather along his intended flight path. But, he said, that Aircraft Guaranty had not obtained the proper clearances for the flight, leading to Murphy's detention.

Andi said that officials are waiting for the U.S. Embassy to come to Tarakan airport with officials from the Transportation Ministry to investigate the violation of Indonesian airspace. He said the Murphy could continue his flight once the proper security clearances, flight approvals, and an exit permit are obtained.

(SR20 pictured in file photo)

FMI: http://hubud.dephub.go.id/?en/page/detail/19, www.agcorp.com