Wikipedia

2016 Indonesian Air Force C-130 crash

On 18 December 2016, an Indonesian Air Force Lockheed C-130H Hercules crashed on Mount Lisuwa while approaching Wamena Airport in Wamena, Papua, Indonesia. The aircraft, which was flying a co-pilot training mission, was carrying twelve crew members of the Indonesian Air Force and one passenger. The aircraft was destroyed on impact; all thirteen occupants died.[1][2]

Indonesian Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules crash
An Indonesian Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules similar to the one crashed, but crashed on another flight
Accident
Date18 December 2016 (2016-12-18)
SummaryControlled flight into terrain
SiteMount Lisuwa, Maima District, Jayawijaya Regency, Papua, Indonesia
4°6′53″S 138°58′8″E / 4.11472°S 138.96889°E / -4.11472; 138.96889
Aircraft
Aircraft typeLockheed C-130H Hercules
OperatorIndonesian Air Force
RegistrationA-1334
Flight originMozes Kilangin Airport, Timika, Indonesia
DestinationWamena Airport, Wamena, Indonesia
Occupants13
Passengers1
Crew12
Fatalities13
Survivors0

Aircraft

edit

According to Hadiyan Sumintaatmadja, Vice Chief of the Indonesian Air Force Staff, the aircraft involved was airworthy and had accumulated 9,000 flight hours during its lifespan.[3] He added that the aircraft had received routine maintenance checks, scheduled to be performed every 50 hours.[4] The aircraft itself was newly delivered to the fleet. Delivered in March 2016 from Australia, it was the first of five ex-RAAF C-130H Hercules purchased from the Royal Australian Air Force. The Indonesian Air Force was planning to add up to 16 Hercules to its fleet.[5]

Accident

edit

The aircraft, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules carrying 12 crew members, a passenger, and 12 tonnes of logistics, took off at 05:35 local time (UTC +9) from Mimika Regency's capital Timika, bound for Wamena Airport in Wamena. The aircraft was piloted by Major Marlon A Kawer, and according to a military statement in Halim, the flight was also acting as a training mission for the co-pilot.[6] It was scheduled to land in Wamena at 06:13 local time, before continuing to Jayapura.[7]

The aircraft had contacted Wamena Tower at 06:02, prior to a planned landing on Runway 15. However, due to poor visibility, Wamena Tower suggested that the aircraft should move to another runway, and the pilot accordingly changed to Runway 33. Wamena Tower obtained visual contact with the aircraft at 06:08,[8] but a minute later lost all contact with the plane.[9][10]

Following the crash, a crisis center was set up at Sentani Airport and 30 military personnel were deployed to the area. Search and rescue teams immediately found the wreckage on Mount Lisuwa, near Runway 33. Officials stated that the wreckage was burnt, with the tail section detached from the main body of the aircraft. No survivors were found at the crash site, and bodies were discovered in mutilated and disfigured condition.[11][12] Military officials stated that the bodies of all thirteen of the victims had been found at the crash site and were transported to the nearest airport.[13] By noon on 18 December, ten bodies had been identified.[14] The bodies were repatriated to Malang, East Java. A ceremony was held during the repatriation.[15][16]

Investigation

edit

The Indonesian Air Force sent a team of investigators to the site of the crash and stated that it planned to analyse several factors possibly contributing to the crash. Eyewitness reports stated that the area surrounding the crash was covered with thick fog, and it was possible that the crew had lost their orientation due to the poor visibility.[17]

Aftermath

edit

A massive public outcry occurred after the crash, with most people criticizing the ageing fleets on the Indonesian Air Force. Several people asked to stop the operation of every Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft in Indonesia due to its old age and recent crashes that involved the aircraft. However, the commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces Gatot Nurmantyo stated that it will continue to operate the aircraft. He added that due to the large number of islands in Indonesia, only Lockheed C-130 Hercules that could reach the entire islands in Indonesia.[18]

Government officials were asked to review the aging fleets in the Indonesian Air Force. The Head of the People's Consultative Assembly Zulkifli Hasan stated that the Indonesian Government needs to review and renew its fleet.[19] Indonesian President Joko Widodo had also asked the same thing and ordered to observe the maintenance of every aircraft of the Indonesian Armed Forces.[20]

After the crash, the Indonesian Air Force would renew the engines of every Hercules on their fleet.[21] Members of the Indonesian People's Representatives will call the Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu for his responsibility on the crash.[22]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Arief Laksana, Bisma. "Pesawat Hercules TNI Hilang Kontak di Wamena Papua". Detik. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  2. ^ "Mabes TNI benarkan pesawat Hercules TNI AU jatuh di Wamena". Merdeka. 18 December 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  3. ^ Fajar Indrawan, Aditya. "Wakasau: Hercules Layak Terbang, Jatuh di Wamena Diduga karena Faktor Cuaca". Detik. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  4. ^ "Wakasau: Hercules yang Jatuh di Wamena Rutin Diservis". Detik. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Hercules yang Jatuh di Wamena Hibah dari Australia, Tiba di RI Februari 2016". Detik. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  6. ^ "Hercules TNI AU yang Jatuh di Wamena Terbang untuk Misi Latihan Kopilot". Detik. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  7. ^ "Pesawat Hercules Jatuh Diduga karena Tabrak Gunung". Viva. Archived from the original on 2016-12-18. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  8. ^ "Ganti Runway Tujuan, Ini Kronologi Jatuhnya Hercules di Wamena". Detik. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  9. ^ Batubara, Herianto. "Hercules TNI AU yang Hilang Kontak di Wamena Angkut 12 Kru, Ini Nama-namanya". Detik. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  10. ^ "Pesawat Hercules Diduga Jatuh di Sekitar Gunung Lisuwa". Tempo. 18 December 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  11. ^ Siagian, Wilpret. "Jatuh di Dekat Wamena, Hercules TNI AU Diduga Menabrak Gunung Tugima". Detik. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  12. ^ "Hercules TNI AU Jatuh di Wamena, 12 Orang Jadi Korban". Pos Kota. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  13. ^ Astari Retaduari, Elza. "12 Jenazah Kru dan 1 Penumpang Hercules TNI AU yang Jatuh Wamena Ditemukan". Detik. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  14. ^ "10 Jenazah Korban Hercules Jatuh Sudah Teridentifikasi". Detik. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  15. ^ "13 Korban Pesawat Hercules Jatuh di Wamena Akan Diterbangkan ke Malang". Detik. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  16. ^ "12 Peti Jenazah Kru Hercules Tiba di Bandara Abdulrachman Saleh, Malang". Detik. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  17. ^ "TNI AU Kirim Tim Investigasi ke Lokasi Pesawat Hercules Jatuh di Wamena". Detik. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  18. ^ "Panglima TNI Sebut Indonesia Masih Butuh Pesawat Hercules". Detik. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  19. ^ "Hercules Jatuh, Ketua MPR: Ini Pelajaran untuk Perbaharui Alutsista Kita". Detik. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  20. ^ "Presiden Jokowi Soal Hercules Jatuh: Maintenance Harus Selalu Diawasi". Detik. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  21. ^ "Usai Insiden di Wamena, KSAU: Kita Perbaharui Mesin Pesawat-pesawat Hercules". Detik. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  22. ^ "Pesawat Hercules TNI Jatuh Lagi, DPR Akan Panggil Menhan". Okezone. 19 December 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
Retrieved from "https://en.wiki.x.io/w/index.php?title=2016_Indonesian_Air_Force_C-130_crash&oldid=1249752889"