Tragedy struck the Indonesian Air Force on Nov. 16 as two EMB-314 Super Tucano light attack aircraft were lost during a training mission in East Java. The incident claimed the lives of four pilots on board the aircraft.
Air Force spokesman Air Commodore Agung Sasongkojati addressed the media in a news conference at Abdulrahman Saleh Air Base in Malang, East Java. He indicated that preliminary findings suggest adverse weather conditions played a significant role in the tragic mishap.
The ill-fated aircraft, flying in formation alongside two similar planes, faced challenging weather conditions that severely limited the pilots’ visibility. In a safety measure, two planes attempted to break away from the formation by ascending above the clouds. Unfortunately, contact was lost with the pilots of the other two aircraft, leading to the safe return of the remaining planes to the Malang base. Shortly after, reports of the crash surfaced.
Rescue workers discovered four bodies of the personnel onboard in Puspo district, Pasuruan regency. The Air Force has deployed a specialized team to locate and retrieve flight data recorders from the affected planes, bearing tail numbers TT-3111 and TT-3103. These recorders store crucial information, including cockpit voice recordings, built-in camera footage, altitude, speed, and aircraft location.
The identified casualties include Col. Widiono (TT-3111, back seater), Major Yuda A. Seta (TT-3103, front seater), Lt. Col. Sandhra Gunawan (TT-3103, front seater) and Col. Subhan (TT-3103, back seater).
The four Tucanos departed from the Abdulrahman Saleh Air Base in Malang, East Java, for a routine training mission at 10:50 a.m. local time (3:50 GMT). Contact was lost at 11:18 a.m., and the remaining two planes safely returned to base at 11:31 a.m.
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