Terra Drone CEO Michael Wishnu Admits He Was Not at the Office During the Fire

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The President Director of PT Terra Drone Indonesia, Michael Wishnu Wardana, admitted that he was not at the location when the fire occurred at his office on 9 December 2025. At that time, Michael was at his rented accommodation located in Setiabudi, South Jakarta. “I was at my kos at the time. I was originally planning to go to Bandung. (The kos is) in Setiabudi, Kuningan,” Michael stated during the continuation of the trial for the PT Terra Drone Indonesia office building fire case at the Central Jakarta District Court on Tuesday (5/5/2026). After learning of the news, he decided to cancel his planned trip to Bandung. “From there, I cancelled my plan to go to Bandung and at that time I immediately rushed to the location,” he explained. The situation was already very chaotic by then. Michael quickly met with the employees who were already outside the building. Michael also mentioned that when he arrived at the location, the fire had already started to subside. “I tried to meet my employees one by one and check. And ask about the incident, and also check on my employees’ conditions,” he said. “Information from my employees, there were still some trapped inside,” Michael continued. Previously reported, the President Director of PT Terra Drone Indonesia, Michael Wishnu Wardhana, failed to carry out his obligations to prevent, reduce, and extinguish the fire at his office building on 9 December 2025. As a result, the fire at the Terra Drone office building caused the deaths of 22 victims. Based on the indictment file obtained by Kompas.com, Michael Wishnu did not provide fire detection sensors, did not provide smoke detection sensors, did not provide emergency ladders and evacuation route signs, did not conduct regular fire prevention training and drills, and did not provide adequate Lithium Fire Killer (AF31) portable fire extinguishers in the office building. The article in question regulates penalties for negligence resulting in serious injuries, with a maximum prison term of five years or a fine of up to Rp500,000,000. He is also charged with violating Article 188 of the Criminal Code. This article regulates negligence causing fire, explosion, or flood that endangers public safety, with a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment.