Basarnas: Body of Pelita Air Service Pilot Successfully Evacuated
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Basarnas has confirmed that the body of the pilot of a PT Pelita Air Service aircraft reported to have crashed in the hilly area of Krayan, Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan, has been successfully evacuated.
"Yes, the distance between the Basarnas post or unit and the crash site was quite far, but thanks to the assistance of SAR volunteers, both the aircraft and the pilot were found," said Basarnas Deputy for Operations and Preparedness Edy Prakoso, when contacted in Jakarta on Thursday.
He revealed that the pilot, Captain Hendrick Lodewyck Adam, was found dead at the crash site and was immediately transported to the nearest health facility for further processing, namely Long Bawan Hospital, this afternoon.
"At 15.20 Central Indonesian Time, the pilot's body was taken to Pratama Long Bawan Hospital in Nunukan," he said.
Basarnas stated that subsequent procedures would be coordinated with the relevant authorities for further handling and investigation into the cause of the accident.
The Tarakan SAR Office had previously reported that the Air Tractor AT-802 aircraft, with registration PK-PAA and flight number PAS7101, lost contact after taking off from Long Bawan Airport bound for Tarakan on 19 February 2026. The aircraft, carrying a single crew member (the pilot), departed at 12.10 Central Indonesian Time via runway 22.
According to the chronology, at 12.25 Central Indonesian Time an eyewitness at the apron observed the aircraft descending in a tilted position towards the rear of a hill at the end of runway 22. The AirNav Long Bawan unit then coordinated with the airport authorities regarding the suspected accident.
Two minutes later, AirNav received information from Susi Air aircraft PK-BVN, which had detected an active emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal within a radius of approximately five kilometres from the direction of the final approach to runway 22. This information was immediately acted upon with the deployment of personnel to the location.
The Indonesian Air Force post commander, the local military district commander, and local residents moved towards the suspected crash site, and at 13.25 Central Indonesian Time the aircraft wreckage was found. The pilot was confirmed dead at 14.33 Central Indonesian Time before being evacuated.
"Yes, the distance between the Basarnas post or unit and the crash site was quite far, but thanks to the assistance of SAR volunteers, both the aircraft and the pilot were found," said Basarnas Deputy for Operations and Preparedness Edy Prakoso, when contacted in Jakarta on Thursday.
He revealed that the pilot, Captain Hendrick Lodewyck Adam, was found dead at the crash site and was immediately transported to the nearest health facility for further processing, namely Long Bawan Hospital, this afternoon.
"At 15.20 Central Indonesian Time, the pilot's body was taken to Pratama Long Bawan Hospital in Nunukan," he said.
Basarnas stated that subsequent procedures would be coordinated with the relevant authorities for further handling and investigation into the cause of the accident.
The Tarakan SAR Office had previously reported that the Air Tractor AT-802 aircraft, with registration PK-PAA and flight number PAS7101, lost contact after taking off from Long Bawan Airport bound for Tarakan on 19 February 2026. The aircraft, carrying a single crew member (the pilot), departed at 12.10 Central Indonesian Time via runway 22.
According to the chronology, at 12.25 Central Indonesian Time an eyewitness at the apron observed the aircraft descending in a tilted position towards the rear of a hill at the end of runway 22. The AirNav Long Bawan unit then coordinated with the airport authorities regarding the suspected accident.
Two minutes later, AirNav received information from Susi Air aircraft PK-BVN, which had detected an active emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal within a radius of approximately five kilometres from the direction of the final approach to runway 22. This information was immediately acted upon with the deployment of personnel to the location.
The Indonesian Air Force post commander, the local military district commander, and local residents moved towards the suspected crash site, and at 13.25 Central Indonesian Time the aircraft wreckage was found. The pilot was confirmed dead at 14.33 Central Indonesian Time before being evacuated.