Transjakarta Bus Emits Thick Smoke Causing Passenger Panic; 59 Zhongtong Articulated Buses Under Investigation

A Transjakarta bus operating on Corridor 9 (Pinang Ranti–Pluit) was reported to have emitted thick smoke whilst stopping at Pancoran bus stop on Saturday afternoon, 14 February 2026. The incident automatically caused passengers to panic and rush out of the vehicle.

The event went viral on social media. In passenger footage uploaded to the Instagram account @infojakartabarat.id, dense smoke could be seen filling the bus stop area. Passengers were visibly panicked and scrambled out of the bus to escape the smoke.

The source of the smoke was traced to the rear engine compartment. The malfunction was triggered by a radiator leak accompanied by a dislodged fan belt, which caused thick smoke to billow from the engine area.

According to Transjakarta, the smoke was not caused by a fire but rather by a technical malfunction in the vehicle.

The affected bus was a DAMRI-operated unit with fleet number DMR 715, serving Corridor 9 on the Pinang Ranti–Pluit route.

All passengers were safely evacuated to the bus stop area and transferred to the next available bus in an orderly manner. There were no casualties, either among the driver or passengers.

Transjakarta is currently conducting a thorough internal investigation and inspecting 59 gas-fuelled articulated buses of the Zhongtong brand, particularly their cooling systems.

As a follow-up measure, Transjakarta has decided to temporarily ground the bus fleet. The step was taken to carry out a comprehensive check and ensure each unit meets strict roadworthiness standards before being permitted to resume passenger services.

Transjakarta’s Head of Public Relations and CSR, Ayu Wardhani, conveyed an apology for the incident involving bus unit DMR 715.

“We are committed to zero tolerance for any neglect of technical standards in order to guarantee the safety and comfort of our customers as a top priority. All affected fleet units will undergo a technical audit before returning to service,” Ayu affirmed.