The tragic incident involving an Indonesian military aircraft on 16 November 2023, led to the deaths of four pilots at the scene in Pasuruan, East Java. Two EMB 314 Super Tucano aircraft, part of Air Squadron 21 at Abdulrachman Saleh Malang Airstrip, lost contact at 11:18 AM local time subsequent to their 10:51 AM local time takeoff.
According to Dani Kusdiantoro, the Secretary of Kedawung Village in Pasuruan and an eyewitness, he observed the two planes flying at low altitudes amid thick foggy weather. Shortly after, an explosion was heard, resulting in one plane crashing into a cliff within the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park area while the other entered a protected forest zone.
The four crew members who tragically lost their lives in the Indonesian military aircraft crash were:
- Lieutenant Colonel Pnb Sandhra Gunawan (Frontseater) (TT-3111)
- Colonel Adm Widiono (Backseater) (TT-3111)
- Major Pnb Yuda A. Seta (Frontseater) (TT-3103)
- Colonel Pnb Subhan (Backseater) (TT-3103)
As stated by Agung Sasongkojati, the Head of the Indonesian Air Force Information Service, both Indonesian military aircraft were engaged in routine formation exercises and were in good condition prior to takeoff.
Numerous circulating videos depict the plane’s wreckage, revealing complete destruction except for the remaining intact tail section. This has deeply saddened not only the ranks of the Indonesian Air Force but also the wider community.
@officialinewsPesawat tempur TNI Angkatan Udara (AU) dikabarkan jatuh di Pasuruan, Jawa Timur (Jatim), Kamis (16/11/2023). Hingga kini belum ada laporan pasti tentang korban jiwa. Dalam video amatir beredar, ada dua lokasi yang menjadi titik jatuhnya pesawat. Dalam sebuah rekaman video yang diterima Okezone, pesawat itu bernomor ekor TT-3103. Berdasarkan penelusuran di laman TNI AU, nomor seri itu digunakan untuk pesawat jenis Super Tucano. #TNIAU #PesawatJatuh #SuperTucano #Pasuruan♬ original sound – OfficialiNews
Over the past three years, spanning from 2020 to 2023, there have been three recorded Indonesian military aircraft accidents. On June 15, 2020, a BAE Hawk 209 fighter plane crashed in the Siak Hulu area of Riau. The pilot, First Lieutenant Pnb Apriyanto Ismail, was able to save himself by ejecting using an ejection seat.
Then, in 2022, another Indonesian military aircraft crashed in the mountainous region of Blora, Central Java. With the code TT-5009, the aircraft lost contact at 7:25 PM local time shortly after departing from Iswahjudi Airport in Magetan, East Java. Sadly, First Lieutenant Pnb Allan Safitra Indera, the pilot, was declared deceased while on duty during this incident.
Following the Super Tucano accident on 16 November 2023, the aspiration is for no further plane crashes of this nature to occur in the Indonesian Air Force ranks in the upcoming years.
