Emergency Alarm Sounds at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Terminal 2; Here is What Happened
The emergency warning alarm at Terminal 2 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (Soetta) in Tangerang, Banten, sounded on Saturday afternoon due to the appearance of smoke plumes within the terminal area.
Based on a 12-second video circulating on social media, the incident occurred specifically in the Terminal 2D area. The emergency alert drew significant attention from airport staff and passengers present in the terminal, as thick smoke filled several areas, causing the emergency sirens to sound for an extended period.
Yudistiawan, Assistant Deputy of Communication & Legal at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, confirmed the emergency incident to ANTARA in Tangerang. “We wish to convey that based on field inspections, the source of the smoke originated from an operational vehicle belonging to a ground handling company that experienced a technical malfunction while in the baggage makeup area of Terminal 2D,” he stated.
He noted that authorities had responded by deploying operational staff alongside the Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) unit. The operational team immediately moved to the location to secure the area, perform initial handling, and evacuate the malfunctioning vehicle to an open area to accelerate smoke dissipation.
“We acted swiftly to coordinate and manage the situation on the ground so that conditions could be brought under control. Within approximately 5 to 10 minutes of receiving the report, the source of the disturbance was successfully handled, and the affected area was normalised,” he added.
According to Yudistiawan, the response included managing air circulation, sweeping the area, and providing information to passengers to ensure the terminal remained safe and comfortable. All personnel and the affected areas were brought under control quickly, and terminal activities returned to normal.
“The smoke plumes were resolved in a short time, and all affected areas have returned to normal. We also apologise for any inconvenience caused to passengers. The safety, security, and comfort of our users remain our top priority,” he explained.
He further ensured that all flight operations and passenger services at Terminal 2 continued to run safely, orderly, and under control. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport is currently coordinating with the ground handling party to conduct a further evaluation of the vehicle that experienced the technical fault. “We are committed to ensuring all operational aspects adhere to safety and security standards to provide the best service to all users,” he concluded.