Sriwijaya Air Sets Up Crisis Center at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Opens Hotline

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said a crisis center for families of Sriwijaya Air SJ182 victims has been opened at Soekarno-Hatta Airport’s Arrival Terminal 2D.

“The post is [opened] at the arrival terminal of Soekarno-Hatta Airport,” the minister said Saturday, Jan. 9.

Sriwijaya Air Boeing 737-500 was reportedly lost contact four minutes after taking off from Soekarno-Hatta or at 14:40 western Indonesia time (WIB). The plane that took off at 14:36 and should’ve been landed on Pontianak airport at 15:50 WIB was reportedly lost contact at around the Thousand Islands.

Minister Budi assured that there were 62 people onboard Sriwijaya Air SJ182, which include 50 passengers and 12 crew members. The passengers were 40 adults, seven children, and three babies.

Sriwijaya Air CEO Jefferson Jauwena previously announced that his office opened two posts for victims’ families at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and Pontianak's Supadio Airport.

He said his side would work and coordinate with related parties to carry out the search for the victims. Jefferson offered his deepest condolence for what had happened.

Sriwijaya Air opened hotlines for victims’ families at (62+)180637816 and (62+)180637817. The airliner said it would provide all the supports needed by victims’ families.

A joint team conducted a search around the Thousand Islands (Kepulauan Seribu) waters. The aviation authorities and related parties are doing an investigation regarding the Sriwijaya Air SJ182 accident.

Read: Indonesian SAR Team: Sriwijaya Air Possibly Fell at Thousand Islands

Francisca Christy Rosana