Second Life Jacket Found, Banten Regional Police Confirm Not Belonging to Missing Journalists' Vessel
Banten Regional Police Chief, Irjen Pol Hengki, has spoken out regarding the discovery of a second life jacket by KAL Anyer during the search operation for five journalists and three crew members who lost contact while covering the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau.
Hengki ensured that the second life jacket, found on the fourth day of the search operation, does not belong to the Arugadhatu 1 vessel.
“Regarding the discovery on the fourth day, there was another life jacket; we interrogated the Sub-Directorate of Law Enforcement of the Marine Police last night, and it is not equipment belonging to the Arupadhatu 1 vessel,” said Hengki, as reported by ANTARA on Saturday, 12 September 2026.
Hengki made this clarification after receiving confirmation from the owner of the Arupadhatu 1, Sandi Wiyasa. The vessel owner stated that the discovered safety equipment does not belong to his ship.
“Therefore, both the first discovery, which consisted of one life jacket and a white float, and the discovery yesterday on the fourth day, which was also a life jacket, are clearly not the safety equipment or life jackets owned by the Arupadhatu 1 vessel that we are searching for,” he explained.
KAP Sanjaya departed at approximately 07:30 WIB for the fifth day of the search operation for the five journalists and three crew members who have been out of contact since Monday, 7 September 2026.
The vessel will undertake a total round trip of 80 miles at a speed of 10 knots, a journey expected to take approximately eight hours.
On this fifth day, the joint SAR team will continue the search operation across an area of 4,512 nautical miles. The number of vessels involved has increased from 13 to 14, divided into six sectors.
The search will focus heavily on the areas around Lampung, Bengkulu, and Ujung Kulon.
It was previously reported that the joint SAR team discovered an orange life jacket during the fourth day of the search for the five journalists and three crew members missing in the Sunda Strait waters. The life jacket was found by the Navy Ship (KAL) Anyer during a sweep around Mount Anak Krakatau, according to the Head of the Banten SAR Office, Al Amrad.