Smart Air Cargo Plane Missing in North Kalimantan

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A cargo plane belonging to Smart Air airline was reported missing on Friday morning, March 8, 2024, while transporting basic commodities. The plane lost contact after taking off from Juwata Tarakan International Airport in North Kalimantan.

Adira Irawati, a spokesperson for the Transportation Ministry, explained that this civil cargo plane was crewed by pilot Capt. M Yusuf and an engineer on board (EOB) Deni S.

“The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has received an initial report that the PK-SNE Pilatus aircraft lost contact at 11:22 WITA (Central Indonesia Time) on the route Tarakan Airport (TRK) - Binuang Airport (BNG) - Robert Atty Bessy Airport (LNU),” Adita said in a written statement to Tempo.

She said that the plane took off from Tarakan Airport at 08:25 WITA and was expected to land at Binuang Airport at 09:20 WITA. “[The plane] is carrying 583 kilograms of cargo,” she added. 

In response to the incident, a crisis center command post has been opened to gather information on the plane search. Two planes, PK-SNG of Smart Aviation and PK-VVI of Susi Air, were also dispatched in the search mission.

“The regional government helped by sending Kodim (military command) troops to the Setulang area and the community to the Mount Narid area,” Adita said.

Adita went on to say that the National Army’s (TNI AD) helicopters together with the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) members were also been dispatched. “The Directorate General of Civil Aviation will continue to coordinate and provide further updates,” she said.

DESTY LUTHFIANI

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