{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1947017,
        "msgid": "drone-display-f-16-jets-and-giant-flag-enliven-merdeka-run-2026-1787968247",
        "date": "2026-08-29 07:40:29",
        "title": "Drone Display, F-16 Jets, and Giant Flag Enliven Merdeka Run 2026",
        "author": "",
        "source": "CNN_ID",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Social Policy",
        "summary": "The Merdeka Run 2026 took place in Jakarta on Saturday, 29 August, featuring a drone formation, F-16 flypast, and a giant Indonesian flag flown by helicopter. Around 12,000 participants were flagged off by senior government officials in front of Merdeka Palace as part of the closing events for the 81st Independence Day celebrations. The event included public figures, temporary road closures, and support from local small businesses.",
        "content": "<p>The Merdeka Run 2026 event took place in a festive atmosphere on\nSaturday (29\/8), featuring a number of attractions, including a drone\nformation, F-16 fighter jets, and the hoisting of a giant Red and White\nflag.<\/p>\n<p>Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Minister of Youth and\nSports Erick Thohir, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya flagged\noff around 12,000 participants of the Merdeka Run 2026 in front of\nMerdeka Palace on Jalan Medan Merdeka Utara, Jakarta, on Saturday\nmorning.<\/p>\n<p>Before the flag-off, a drone display enlivened the event by showing a\nnumber of patterns. These included a map of Indonesia, the Red and White\nflag, and a Garuda with the words \u2018Dirgahayu Republik Indonesia\u2019. The\ndrone lights decorated the still-dark Jakarta sky from 5.32 a.m. Western\nIndonesian Time.<\/p>\n<p>The opening of the running event, held to commemorate the 81st\nAnniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia, began with\nthe singing of the national anthem Indonesia Raya accompanied by the\nhoisting of the Red and White flag in the grounds of Merdeka Palace.<\/p>\n<p>After that, three F-16 jets flew over the sky above Monas as a sign\nthat the running event was about to begin. The starting flag was raised\nby the Minister of State Secretary, the Minister of Youth and Sports,\nand the Cabinet Secretary at exactly 6.00 a.m. Western Indonesian\nTime.<\/p>\n<p>Another attraction at Merdeka Run 2026 occurred during the run\nitself. A helicopter carried a giant Red and White flag across the\nJakarta sky.<\/p>\n<p>The Merdeka Run event was held as the closing of the series of\nactivities for the 2026 Independence Month. Several categories were\noffered, namely general, family, masters, and wheelchair.<\/p>\n<p>Merdeka Run 2026 covered a route of 8 kilometres, starting in front\nof Merdeka Palace, along Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Jalan MH Thamrin,\nthe HI Roundabout, Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, Dukuh Atas, and back towards\nMerdeka Palace.<\/p>\n<p>A number of public figures also took part in the running event,\nincluding celebrity and Special Presidential Envoy for Youth Generation\nDevelopment and Arts Workers Raffi Ahmad, singer Gisella Anastasia,\nactress Fanny Ghassani, Indonesian national team coach John Herdman, and\nIndonesian national team player Ivar Jenner.<\/p>\n<p>Several roads were also temporarily closed to support the event, from\naround 4.00 a.m. to 7.30 a.m. Western Indonesian Time.<\/p>\n<p>Merdeka Run 2026 was also enlivened by performances from Wali Band\nand Moluccan Soul, dozens of MSMEs offering various products, and\nvarious attractive door prizes.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/drone-display-f-16-jets-and-giant-flag-enliven-merdeka-run-2026-1787968247",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}