National team leads search for missing Cessna

Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Kuningan, West Java

The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) finally took over the search for a light training aircraft Cessna 172 PK-DCM, last seen on Thursday of last week above West Java during its flight from Semarang, Central Java, to Jakarta.

The takeover was designed to improve coordination in search activities, an official said.

Head of the Basarnas operational unit Hadi Tugiman said on Tuesday that Kuningan, West Java, Military chief Lt. Col. Harry Suharyanto would be the field commander in the search.

Harry would be accompanied by Kuningan Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Hasanuddin.

Besides taking over command of the search, Basarnas also declared Setianegara village in Cilimus district, Kuningan regency, as the command post for the search.

The team would focus its search around Mount Ceremai, Kuningan and Mount Burangrang, Purwakarta, West Java.

"All instructions will be made from the command post," Hadi said.

A Cessna light aircraft went missing during a training flight, leaving the fate of three people, instructor Berty Franky and two students, Gagak Eskandarian and Prasetyo Arwin Bunandir, still unknown.

Meantime, although the Muslim community observed the Day of Sacrifice, Idul Adha, on Wednesday, the search for the ill-fated aircraft belonging to PT Deraya flying school continued.

Coordinator of the Forest Youth Activists (AKAR) Avo Juhartono said his rescue team had not found the plane by the fifth day of the search.

"As of now, we haven't discovered the location where the plane fell," Avo said on Wednesday.

Hadi Tugiman also said that his team would still need assistance from various parties, including nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), the Indonesian Military (TNI), the National Police and the regional administration.

He added that the agency would deploy 62 trained personnel to the search-and-rescue activities. They would be drawn from a variety of organizations such as the Army, Air Force, police, NGOs and environmental groups.

The search would also be supported by at least two aircraft and seven helicopters.

"The aircraft and helicopters have been readied for deployment either at Ciremai or Burangrang," Hadi said, adding that the search team had not yet found the location where the plane fell to ground.

Search-and-rescue personnel have explored three square kilometers of upland around Mount Ciremai, from 1,000 meters above sea level to 2,250 meters.

The next search would concentrate on other areas, involving the 62 people in six groups.

Hadi added that the search for the ill-fated aircraft would continue and be evaluated after seven days. "We will consider whether to continue or to stop the search after seven days," Hadi added.