REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SAMARINDA - A US civilian plane was forced to land at Sepinggan airport in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan and was being held at the Air Force base. Base commander Col Djoko Senoputro said on Monday that the Cessna 208 with flight number N354RM was being held at the air force base.

The plane piloted by Michael A Boyd (53 year) was forced to land by two Air Force fighters from Squadron 11 in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Sunday because it had no permit to pass through Indonesian airspace. Senoputro said that the pilot, Michael A Boyd, is in quarantine at the Air Force residence.

"The length of his detention will depend on his company`s decision to complete his papers," Senoputro said.

He added that no suspicious items were found in the plane that carried no passengers. "No suspicious items or camera were found on the plane. Examination process has already finished and we are only waiting for the flight permit the company concerned has to meet," he said.

The plane flew from Wichita, the US, and called at Santa Maria in California, Honolulu, Korsje and Singapore before heading for Papua.

"It is operated in the Papuan region by PT Rajawali Dirgantara Mandiri. Since it did not have a permit to fly through Indonesian airspace, it should have flown by way of the Philippines and Malaysia," he said.

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