Condition of Pelita Air Aircraft That Crashed in Nunukan
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — The fuel-carrying aircraft that crashed in Krayan, Nunukan, North Kalimantan, on Thursday 19 February 2026 was found in a burning condition. In the accident, the aircraft’s body was destroyed, leaving only its metal frame after catching fire.
The aircraft was an Air Tractor AT-802 with registration PK-PAA, manufactured in 2013 with serial number 802-0494, operated by Pelita Air Service specifically for transporting fuel to remote areas as part of the government’s One Price Fuel programme.
The plane departed from Tarakan and landed at Yuvai Semaring Airport in Long Bawan at 11.24am local time. After ground crew completed the unloading of its cargo, the aircraft took off again at 12.10pm local time heading back to Tarakan in an unladen condition.
Eyewitnesses at the airport apron reported seeing the aircraft descend at an angle before disappearing behind a hill at the end of the runway. Approximately 10 minutes after take-off, the aircraft was reported to have crashed in the mountainous area of Pabetung Remayo, East Krayan District.
The crash site was located at 1.25pm local time following an intensive search. When the evacuation team arrived, the aircraft body was already severely damaged and burned, with metal debris scattered around the accident area.
The flight was crewed by a single pilot, Captain Hendrick Lodewyck Adam, aged 54, who had joined PT Pelita Air Service in July 2021 and had accumulated more than 8,000 hours of flying experience. His body was found at the crash site by military personnel.
A total of 21 Indonesian military (TNI) personnel were deployed to conduct the search, evacuate the victim, and secure the area around the crashed aircraft.
The aircraft had undergone its most recent routine maintenance on 15 February 2026. Pelita Air stated that the aircraft was in airworthy condition prior to the flight.
Preliminary findings point to weather conditions as a possible contributing factor, with light rain reported in the area and visibility of approximately six kilometres at the time of departure.
Pelita Air and the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) dispatched a joint investigation team to Long Bawan on Friday 20 February 2026 to determine the cause of the accident. The investigation remains ongoing.