REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has urged the National Military (TNI) and Police (Polri) forces to heighten supervision of maintenance of their aircraft in Indonesia. "We really need to get to the bottom of issues regarding military or police aircrafts," said the President, after officiating at the release and distribution of the 2016 rupiah stock issuance at the Bank of Indonesia in Jakarta, Monday.
Jokowi said he believes that both institutions need to pay attention to aircraft maintenance to minimize accidents. According to Chief of Air Force Marshal Staff Agus Supriatna, he added, the cause of the Hercules C-130 that crashed in Wamena, Jayawijaya was due to poor weather conditions.
"The natural conditions there are, indeed, full of tall mountains and hills, but once again, anything that has to do with aircraft maintenance need to be controlled, supervised and, most importantly, reviewed," he said.
Meanwhile, an Aircraft Incident Investigation Team (PPKPU) from the Air Force Headquarters will today begin their investigation into what may have caused the Hercules C 130 H A-1334 crash.
The plane crashed in Maima village, Minimo district, Jayawijaya sub-district, Papua on Sunday morning, while carrying provisions and cement. The aircraft also carried 12 crew members and a passenger, all of whom were pronounced dead.
The victims include Flight Instructor Major P. Marlon Ardiles Kawer, Co-Pilot Captain P. H. F. Saragih, and Pilot II Lettu Nav Arif Fajar Prayogi. Also among the victims were Air Radio technician Lukman Hakim, Engine technicians Suyata, Kusen and Serma Kudori, Load Master I Agung Tri W, Load Master II Agung S, Load Master II Serma Fatoni, extra crew Suyanto and passenger Captain Lek Rino.