Ceiling of Terminal 3 at Soekarno-Hatta Airport Collapses, Construction Expert Urges Roof System Repairs

Heavy rain that lashed the Tangerang area and surroundings from 12:30 WIB on Monday (6/4/2026) has once again impacted Indonesia’s vital infrastructure. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, which should serve as a showcase of national progress, instead presented a distressing sight. Viral video footage on TikTok captured the dramatic moment when ceiling material could not withstand the weight of accumulated water and collapsed to the floor at approximately 13:40 WIB. Construction expert from the Indonesian Construction Experts Association (HAKI), Davy Sukamta, opined that the damage did not occur in the main roof structure, but rather a failure in the waterproofing system. “It’s not the roof that collapsed, but there was a leak. Water accumulated in the ceiling until the load exceeded capacity and it finally gave way. The roof layer is made of metal and should be designed to be watertight,” Davy stressed in response to Kompas.com on Monday (6/4/2026). This technique is crucial to prevent water infiltration. Additionally, the roof’s slope angle plays a vital role in ensuring water flows properly without pooling in vulnerable spots. According to Davy, modern terminals generally adopt a large-span concept with wide distances between columns. Such designs demand flawless roof performance. Davy assessed that leaks could be avoided if the roof system was properly designed and implemented from the outset. “The airport authority must comprehensively review this roof system. No need for a total renovation, just repairs to the roof system. Design also greatly influences long-term performance,” Davy added. Regarding speculation about using foreign versus local consultants, Davy is optimistic that local consultants have sufficient capability to handle this issue, provided technical standards are adhered to without compromise. On this matter, Assistant Deputy for Communication and Legal Affairs at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Yudistiawan, stated that the roof disruption was brief. He mentioned that airport operational staff immediately took action upon discovering the leak, including restricting the affected area to keep the situation under control. “Airport operational staff immediately handled it, including cleaning and restricting the affected area, so the situation could be quickly controlled,” he concluded.