TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-Search for the missing Aviastar resumed Monday, October 5. On the third day of the search, the Makassar National SAR Agency (Basarnas) prepares at least 10 divers to search for Twin Otter aircraft.
"We've got 10 divers in Basarnas Makassar. Currently, they are in Masamba waiting for the [SAR] ship," said Basarnas Makassar Head of Operations, Deden Ridwansyah on Monday.
Deden explained that the divers are Basarnas trained personnel. They are used to dive in SAR operations. According to Deden, the number of divers who will be deployed are likely to rise because Basarnas did not include search teams from the central and other areas. The dive operation will only be done after there is certainty that the missing plane crashed in the waters.
Search under water operation will be done around the Bone Gulf. Based on data from the combined search and rescue operations team, four of the nine sectors have territorial waters. Meanwhile, at this time, Basarnas Makassar rescue boat 302 and a number of dinghys are conducting searches around Bone Gulf.
Deden explained further, SAR operations will optimize all sectors, not just in the marine areas. "We try to maximize all search by air and land. Hopefully soon we have results," said Deden.
South and West Sulawesi Police spokesman, Commissioner Frans Barung Mangera, said they are ready to help with the sea search and rescue operation. Barung said he had instructed police officers in the region to add water police to help. “[Monday] we help Basarnas in the marine sector," said Frans.
Aviastar aircraft lost contact about 11 minutes after take-off from Andi Djemma airport, Masamba, Luwu Utara, Friday, October 2, at around 2:25 pm local time. A joint SAR team begin the search after the aircraft carrying 7 passengers and 3 crews did not arrived at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport as scheduled at 3:39 pm. Before it was declared missing, the pilot had twice contacted the control tower (ATC) in Makassar.
The joint search and rescue team search on Monday focuses on 9 points, that is from the beginning it lost contact in Andi Djemma Airport and the crew’s last mobile phone signal. The points covers a number of districts and cities, including Tana Toraja, Palopo, Sidrap, Enrekang and Luwu Regents.
TRI YARI KURNIAWAN
