Police general killed in plane crash
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A small single-engine plane made a crash landing on the Jagorawi toll road, only hundreds of meters from the Cililitan toll gate in East Jakarta, killing the pilot and injuring the three passengers, including an Australian, and two motorists.
The pilot, Brig. Gen. Bakat Purwanto, 47, was dead on arrival at the Indonesian Christian University (UKI) Hospital. The three other people on board were Michael Watson, a 58-year-old Australian police officer, Andreas Tanus, 49, who is a local consultant, and his six-year-old son, Matthew Tanus.
"I had been flying many times with Pak Bakat ... Today, we just wanted to look around the city," Watson, who was a friend of the pilot, told The Jakarta Post.
Shortly after the plane took off, however, the engine stopped. "We had no option but to go down as the plane has only a single engine," Watson said.
Watson said that Bakat decided to make an emergency landing, after the Jabero 400 engine stopped.
"However, as most areas in Halim are housing complexes, he chose to land on the highway to minimize the risks and victims," Watson added.
Witnesses said that the forced landing did not go smoothly as the plane first hit a tree before its left side scraped the toll road fence and then collided with some passing cars. The plane was badly damaged and was upturned.
Two motorists, identified as Atun and Titin, were rushed to Pondok Gede Hospital in East Jakarta, as they suffered cuts from shattered windshield glass. The two left the hospital later in the day.
Dr. Imelda of UKI Hospital told reporters that Bakat's heart had stop beating and his brain had also stop functioning upon arrival at the hospital.
"We attempted to save his life but it was to no avail. Bakat suffered serious head injuries," Imelda said.
She said that Andreas who sat on the back seat along with his son Matthew also suffered light head injuries and minor wounds to the legs and hands. Andreas, a consultant with a private firm here, was also Bakat's friend. He resides in Permata Hijau housing complex in South Jakarta.
Watson, who sat right beside the pilot, received only light injuries to his left hand and knee.
"I'm really lucky ... Pak Bakat did a very good job in landing anyway," said Watson.
Watson said that to his knowledge, there had been no problem with the plane upon take off.
When the engine cut out, all passengers remained calm as they trusted Bakat's piloting skills, Watson claimed.
Watson was a close friend of Bakat and met him when he worked as a language consultant with the language school for police. Bakat was the school principal at the time. The project was part of cooperation between the Indonesian National Police and the Australian Federal Police.
The crash also caused heavy traffic congestion on the toll road hours after.
National Police deputy spokesman, Brig. Gen. Edward Aritonang said that Bakat was member of the Indonesian Aerosport Federation (FASI).
"Bakat had a pilot's license from FASI. He had recorded five years experience in flying," Edward told the Post.
Bakat's family revealed that Bakat's burial was scheduled for Sunday at Tanah Kusir public cemetery in South Jakarta.