Dona Airstrip

The closure was due to economic and logistical factors, a common fate for many remote airstrips in Papua New Guinea. The primary cause was a lack of consistent funding for maintenance. Without regular clearing, the tropical vegetation and weather conditions quickly degraded the runway surface, making it unsafe for aircraft operations. There is no evidence to suggest it was closed due to a specific accident, military conversion, or natural disaster.

Based on current satellite imagery, the airstrip is completely abandoned and has been reclaimed by the jungle. The runway is heavily overgrown with dense vegetation and is no longer visible or usable as an airfield. The site is inactive and may be used by the local community for footpaths or small-scale subsistence farming.

Dona Airstrip served as a critical lifeline for the isolated community of Dona and surrounding villages in the rugged Morobe Province. In a country with minimal road infrastructure, such airstrips are essential. It was likely built and used by missionary aviation groups (like Mission Aviation Fellowship - MAF) and small, third-level commercial air services. Operations would have consisted of STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) aircraft, such as the Pilatus Porter, Britten-Norman Islander, and Cessna 206. These flights were vital for delivering essential supplies like food, medicine, and tools, transporting personnel (doctors, teachers, government officers), and facilitating medical evacuations to larger centers like Lae.

There are no known official plans or active projects to reopen Dona Airstrip. While government bodies like Papua New Guinea's Rural Airstrips Agency (RAA) and non-profit organizations work to restore rural airfields, Dona is not currently on any publicly available list of projects. Reopening would require a significant financial investment, a strong commitment from the local community for clearing and ongoing maintenance, and a demonstrated need for air services. Given its current state, the prospects for reopening in the near future are very low.