Indonesia Flying Club to Cancel Aeroculture Festival Post-BSD Plane Crash

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesia Flying Club (IFC) canceled the Aeroculture and Adventure Festival slated for May 24 to 26, 2024 in Tanjung Lesung, Banten. The international-scale festival, which had been in preparation for several months, was scraped after the aircraft belonging to the aviation club crashed in the BSD Sunburst field, South Tangerang, on May 19.

"It has been postponed and we don't know (when it will be resumed)," said IFC President Sigit Samsu on Friday. Initially, the event is aimed to boost Banten’s tourism.

Sigit explained several considerations for the Aeroculture and Adventure Festival cancellation. First, Sigit stated that IFC is currently mourning the death of its two senior pilots, namely Captain Suanda, Captain Pulu Dermawan, and technician Faried in the plane crash.  

The second consideration is the IFC must not carry out flying activities until the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) issues the results of its investigation of the incident. 

Aeroculture and Adventure Festival

The Aeroculture and Adventure Festival combines aerospace activities including flying, parachuting demonstrations, and trike motorcycles. In addition, this event would have gathered fans of the iconic Land Rovers Series Colony car from several cities in Indonesia. 

This festival was intended to present flying clubs from Indonesia and overseas such as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Australia. 

IFC Mourns the Loss of 2 Senior Pilots and an Engineer 

Sigit said that IFC is deeply saddened by the death of two senior pilots and an engineer in the light aircraft crash in BSD on May 19, 2024. 

Internally, the flying club organization took part in organizing the funeral procession for the three IFC members. "The funerals we attended only finished Tuesday evening," said Sigit.  According to Sigit, Captain Suanda was buried in Cirebon, Captain Pulu Darmawan in Ambarawa, and Engginer Faried in Bandung.

"Thank you for your consideration, condolences, and prayers. We are currently undergoing a KNKT investigation," he said.  

JONIANSYAH HARDJONO

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