Search Operation Continues

The Indonesian Navy Dive Task Force Team has found a flight data recorder belonging to the Sriwijaya Air SJ-182 aircraft with registration number PK-CLC, Tuesday (12/1/2021), in the Thousand Islands chain, Jakarta.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi and TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, Head of Basarnas Air Marshal TNI (Ret.) Bagus Puruhito, Chairman of the KNKT Soerjanto Tjahjono, and Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy Admiral TNI Yudo Margono saw parts of the Sriwijaya Air SJ182 aircraft that were successfully appointed at the SAR Command Post at JICT 2 Jetty, Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, Tuesday (12/1/2021). On the fourth day of the search, Indonesian Navy divers managed to find the Black Boxes of the Sriwijaya Air plane that crashed in the waters of the Thousand Islands.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The Indonesian Navy Dive Task Force Team has found a flight data recorder (FDR) belonging to the Sriwijaya Air SJ-182 aircraft with registration number PK-CLC, Tuesday (12/1/2021), in the Thousand Islands chain, Jakarta. The search operation continues to find the cockpit voice recorder (CVR).

Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto was confident that with the support of KRI Rigel and the research vessel Baruna Jaya IV, the cockpit voice recorder will be found. "This operation has not been completed because the search for the remains of victims will continue, including parts of the aircraft to complete the data required by the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT)," said the TNI Commander, Tuesday, at the Jakarta International Container Terminal, Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta.

Alhamdulillah, we’ve found the FDR. We estimate that the data download will take 2-5 days to reveal the cause of this accident.

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi also witnessed the handover of the flight data recorder, which was carried by KRI Kurau-856, from the TNI Commander to the head of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), Air Marshal (ret.) Bagus Puruhito. Bagus then handed over the FDR to the chairman of the KNKT, Soerjanto Tjahjono.

"Alhamdulillah, we’ve found the FDR. We estimate that the data download will take 2-5 days to reveal the cause of this accident,” said Soerjanto.

Also read: Hunt for Black Boxes Intensifies

However, data from CVR is still needed to be integrated with FDR data. FDR contains flight data, such as direction, speed and altitude of the aircraft. Meanwhile, CVR is a recording of conversation in the cockpit. Both are part of the black boxes attached to the tail of the plane so that they are relatively safe from collisions during an accident.

According to aviation observer Gerry Soejatman, the discovery could help reveal the cause of the crash. "However, the data will not be announced soon because it still has to be analyzed first," he said. Gerry emphasized that the analysis process takes time because it is not just to find out what happened, but why the plane crashed.

Also read: Solidarity Until the End

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi (front) accompanied by TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, Head of Basarnas Marshal Madya TNI (Ret.) Bagus Puruhito, Chairman of the NTSC Soerjanto Tjahjono, and Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy Admiral TNI Yudo Margono gave information to journalists regarding the latest information on the search for the Sriwijaya plane crash Air SJ182 at the SAR Post at JICT 2 Pier, Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, Tuesday (12/1/2021).

The engine was on

According to Soerjanto, the KNKT has collected radar data from the Flight Navigation Service Organizing Agency (LPPNPI) or Airnav Indonesia. From that data, four minutes after taking off, precisely at 2:40 p.m., Sriwijaya SJ-182 reached an altitude of 10,900 feet.

The plane then began descending with the latest data on the position of the plane at an altitude of 250 feet. "From this data, we believe that the engine was still on before the plane hit the water," said Soerjanto.

From this data, we believe that the engine was still on before the plane hit the water.

The KNKT has also observed the turbine discs that have been recovered by Basarnas. "The damage to the fan blade confirms that the engine was still working when it crashed," said Soerjanto.

KRI Rigel has also reported to KNKT regarding the spread of the Boeing 737-500 Sriwijaya SJ-182 wreckage with an area of 100 meters wide and 300-400 meters long. "This spread width is consistent with the assumption that the aircraft did not experience an explosion before hitting the water," said Soerjanto.

Also read: Search Area Expanded

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Indonesian Navy divers found pieces of Sriwijaya Air aircraft around Lancang Kecil Island, Thousand Islands, Jakarta, Sunday (10/1/2021).

Search for the victims

Budi Karya Sumadi informed that President Joko Widodo had asked to accelerate the search for victims. "We are also asked to assist the families of the victims in order to get their rights. The President hopes that the rights of the victims\' families can be resolved properly and quickly,” he said.

Sriwijaya Air President Director Jefferson Jauwena said that his company would facilitate the needs of the victims\' families during the identification process. The company has also prioritized settling the passengers’ rights.

Also read: Sriwijaya Air Flight SJ-182 Crash

State-owned insurance company PT Jasa Raharja began processing data of the heirs for settling the compensation. The company opens command posts at Supadio Airport, Pontianak; Soekarno Hatta Airport; and at a crisis post in Jakarta.

The head of PT Jasa Raharja’s West Kalimantan branch office, Regy S Wijaya, said at the Supadio Airport crisis post, that his company had detected 55 heirs, both crew members and passengers of the Sriwijaya Air SJ-182 aircraft. There are five victims without heirs.

According to Basarnas data, on Tuesday, 65 bags containing body parts were collected so that a total of 139 bags had been evacuated. The bags containing the body parts have been taken to the Sukanto Police Hospital, East Jakarta, for identification. "We are focusing on dealing with the victims because the families are eagerly awaiting," said Bagus. (PDS/VAN/DIV/DAN/JUD/ESA/CAS/NTA/SON/KOR)

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.