Model Figures for Families

KOMPAS/I GUSTI AGUNG BAGUS ANGGA PUTRA

A number of families of Sriwijaya Air passengers with flight number SJ-182 were escorted by police officers out of the waiting room at Terminal 2D Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten, Sunday (10/1/2021). They arrived from Pontianak, West Kalimantan.

In the eyes of their families, they were exemplary people. Some were known for having deep affection for their parents, their helpful nature and for encouraging others to lead virtuous lives.

Even as those closest to them continued to maintain hope, the reports about their fate grew increasingly worrying. By Sunday evening (10/1/2021), no certainty had been established about the safety of the 62 people aboard Sriwijaya Air flight SJ-182 after it plunged into the waters off Jakarta’s Thousand Islands regency.

Through prayer, their families pled for a miracle that would save their loved ones. One such family is that of Panca Widia Nursanti, 47. The mother of four works in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, where she was returned after visiting Tegal, Central Java, to see her ailing mother.

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“As Mother was recovering, she [Widia] decided to go back to Pontianak,” her elder sister Nur Eka Cahyaningsih, 54, said in Tegal, Central Java.

Mother said that Widia didn’t need to come to Tegal, but Widia was persistent and came home, as she wanted to take care of Mother, who was sick.

The happy moments the family shared in Tegal didn’t last long. Widia’s husband Rafiq Yusuf, from Pontianak, informed his in-laws that Widia was aboard the Sriwijaya Air plane that crashed on Saturday afternoon (9/1/2020). Her family in Tegal was hit hard by the news.

“Mother said that Widia didn’t need to come to Tegal, but Widia was persistent and came home, as she wanted to take care of Mother, who was sick,” said Nur.

KOMPAS/ADITYA DIVERANTA

The families of the Sriwijaya Air SJ-182 PK-CLC plane crash victims came to the Bhayangkara Level I Raden Said Sukanto Police Hospital, Kramatjati, East Jakarta, Sunday (10/1/2021).

Widia was known as a dutiful woman who was deeply devoted to her parents. Arriving in Tegal on 22 Dec. 2020, Widia never left her mother’s side. She constantly looked after and cared for her sick mother. She even brought together her relatives at her mother’s house to make her happy.

Widia’s family wasn’t prepared to face the worst possibility. They continued to hope that the operation to search and rescue the passengers was progressing as best as possible.

The family of Sriwijaya Air SJ-182 pilot Capt. Afwan, in Cibinong, Bogor regency, West Java, was also overcome by sadness. The family didn’t want tragedy to be the fate of Afwan, who known as a religious and compassionate man.

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The family hoped the 1986 Air Force Academy graduate would be discovered safe and sound. Since news emerged about the Sriwijaya Air crash, the pilot’s close relatives and neighbors have been visiting Afwan’s home to offer their prayers and support.

In his day-to-day life, the father of three was active in helping to build the local mosque and to support orphans in his community. Capt. Afwan’s younger brother,

Buyung Ismiaufa, said his elder brother had a close relationship with his children. “He was a model. His benevolence was always a lesson for us to care for [our] fellow humans,” said Buyung.

KOMPAS/AGUIDO ADRI

The family of Captain Afwan, Sriwijaya SJ-182 pilot gathered and prayed at Afwan\'s residence for the safety of all passengers, Sunday (10/1/2021).

The misfortune that has befallen Afwan has been the talk of the people in West Sumatra. The people there know that he migrated from Tanah Datar. Afwan is listed on the passenger manifest as one of five domestic migrants who were aboard the plane.

The other local migrants who went down with the plane were Fadly Satrianto from Pesisir Selatan, an extra crew member, as well as passengers Faisal Rahman and Asy Habul Yamin, both from Tanah Datar, and Angga Fernanda Afriyon from Padang.

“Hopefully, all passengers can be discovered soon,” said Luhur Budianda, the head of the West Sumatra Cooperation, Development and Migration Agency.

Grief in the new year

The tragic accident occurred as thousands of Indonesian families were grieving over the death of their relatives to Covid-19. Meanwhile, other families were trying to refrain from traveling to avoid contracting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease.

However, nothing could be done to assist Sriwijaya Air flight SJ-182, which crashed only 4 minutes after taking off from Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

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Martha Sari, 32, cried as she traveled to the National Police Hospital in Kramatjati, East Jakarta. Her steps were heavy, as she knew that her 32-year-old husband Ricko had been aboard the plane.

KOMPAS/ADITYA DIVERANTA

Martha Sari (32) and Demianus Mahulette (56 / white hat) left the antemortem post at the Bhayangkara Level I Raden Said Sukanto Police Hospital, Kramatjati, East Jakarta, Sunday (10/1/2021). They came to confirm the identity of the victim named Ricko (32), a passenger in the Sriwijaya Air SJ-182 PK-CLC plane crash.

The incident ruined the happiness her family had shared during year-end holiday. News about the accident immediately prompted Martha and her 56-year-old father, Demianus Mahulette, to rush from Makassar, South Sulawesi, to the antemortem post at the Jakarta hospital to provide information on Ricko. They made the effort in the hope that they would get some concrete news from the ongoing search-and-rescue (SAR) operation.

“It seems it was only a few days ago that our family members gathered to enjoy being together. Everything changed suddenly and we rushed to Jakarta like this,” said Demianus, who looked tired on his arrival in Jakarta.

Sriwijaya Air flight SJ-182, registered as PK-CLC, was flying to Supadio International Airport in West Kalimantan. The plane disappeared from radar on Saturday at 2:40 p.m. almost immediately after takeoff from Soekarno-Hatta airport.

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Although they were aware that there was only a slim chance the passengers would be found alive, the families still hoped for a miracle. The family of Diego Mamahit, 33, who copiloted the Sriwijaya Air flight, came together to offer up their prayers in Suwaan village in Airmadidi, North Minahasa, North Sulawesi. They were dressed in black, seemingly reflecting the somber mood of the occasion.

He always called to ask to meet up, and he stayed with us here. So he was very close to us.

His family said that Diego was a kindhearted man with close family ties and was an active church member. They felt close to Diego, even though he had been born in Surabaya, East Java, and had never actually lived in Suwaan village or in Manado.

“He always called to ask to meet up, and he stayed with us here. So he was very close to us,” said Johan David Tuerah, 56, Diego’s uncle.

KOMPAS/KRISTIAN OKA PRASETYADI

Johan Tuerah shows a photo of Diego Mamahit (33), his nephew, in Suwaan Village, Airmadidi, North Minahasa, North Sulawesi, on Sunday (10/1/2021). Diego is the copilot of Sriwijaya Air PK-CLC flight number SJ-812 which crashed in the waters of the Thousand Islands, Jakarta.

The family in Suwaan village has continued to monitor reports on the plane. Pictures showing debris from the plane have been circulating in cyberspace, but they maintain their hope for good news amid the uncertainty over Diego’s fate.

By Sunday evening, the joint SAR team had found plane wreckage and human remains in the site of the search operated by Indonesian warship Rigel. The findings were delivered to the National Police Disaster Victim Identification team and the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT).

The government sent units from several different organizations to mount a joint SAR team that also involved various vessels and divers from several groups.

Amid the SAR efforts, the victims’ families traveled to the National Police Hospital in Kramatjati, seeking information on whether their family members had been found. At least 40 adults, seven children, three babies and 12 members of the aircrew were aboard the plane. They are all beloved members and models of their families.

This article was translated by Aris Prawira.