F-16 Fighting Falcon Jets Seen Over Jakarta Amid Protests: Air Force Explains

The Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) has explained the presence of fighter jets flying over Jakarta amid ongoing demonstrations.

In a press statement, Head of the Air Force Information Service (Kadispenau) Air Commodore I Nyoman Suadnyana told Antara in Jakarta on Friday that the training exercise had been conducted since the early hours of Friday morning. The exercise was carried out by fighter pilots in preparation for the Merdeka Run, held to commemorate Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day.

“On Friday, three F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft took off from Iswahjudi Air Base heading towards the Jakarta area, with the target around the National Monument (Monas). After completing the flight along the planned route, the three aircraft then landed at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base,” said Nyoman.

On Saturday (29/8), he explained, the three fighter jets will fly over Jakarta’s airspace once again to perform a flypast during the opening of the Merdeka Run before returning to Iswahjudi Air Base in Magetan, East Java.