KATAL RECOUNTS TRANSPORTING THE LAST FOUNDING FATHER
Supplied Picture: Jedidiah Katal, Tropic Air Pilot broke down in tears after transporting Late Rt Hon. Sir Julius Chan from Kavieng to Port Moresby.
By Nigel MADO
TropicAir pilot Jedidiah Katal shared the profound honour and emotional weight of transporting the casket of Papua New Guinea’s late founding father, Rt. Hon. Sir Julius Chan, from Kavieng to Port Moresby last Friday.
In an interview with this newsroom, Katal revealed that the assignment came as a surprise.
“I woke up in the morning with no flight scheduled for the day,” he said.
“Then at 9 o’clock, I got a message from work saying I had a flight to do at 10:30 to go to Kavieng. They didn’t tell me what it was for.”
Upon arriving at flight operations, Katal was handed the national flag and informed that he would be transporting the casket of Sir Julius Chan.
“It was a bit of a shocker when I found out,” he admitted.
The gravity of the moment hit Katal upon landing in Port Moresby. “When we taxied off to the APEC terminal and I saw everyone there, I realized the magnitude of the job we had done, bringing back the body of one of our founding fathers,” he recalled, emotional.
Reflecting on the honour, Katal said anyone could have been picked to charter the plane, Air Niugini, the Falcon Jet from the Parliament, but they chose TropicAir, the company he worked for, and thanked God for that opportunity.
Katal described the experience as a significant personal and national moment, adding that it wasn’t just about him as a pilot, seeing himself representing not just the people of New Ireland but Papua New Guinea as a whole.
He reflected on Sir Julius Chan’s leadership, noting the statesman’s humility and heart for the people. Jed said from all the tributes, one thing stood out; and it was that he treated everyone equally.
“Even late at night, he would respond to messages, offering encouragement as the country moves toward its 50th anniversary.”
Jed shared that younger generations can learn from Sir Julius, and don’t have to be politicians to make an impact. In their everyday jobs, in conversations, or on the field, it’s the little things that can change this country, he said.
He expressed his condolences to Sir Julius Chan’s family and the people of New Ireland Province.
Pictures Supplied.
