Indonesian Authorities Find Missing Surveillance Plane Wreckage
- On January 9, 2021, Sriwijaya Air flight 182, a Boeing 737-500, crashed into the Java Sea shortly after takeoff from Jakarta, indonesia, killing all 62 people on board.
- Initial debris was discovered on January 9, 2021, and the wreckage was located on January 10, 2021.The flight was operating from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) in Jakarta to...
- The initial discovery of debris, including parts of the plane's window, occurred around 7:46 AM local time on January 9, 2021.
Sriwijaya Air Flight 182 crash
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On January 9, 2021, Sriwijaya Air flight 182, a Boeing 737-500, crashed into the Java Sea shortly after takeoff from Jakarta, indonesia, killing all 62 people on board.
Initial debris was discovered on January 9, 2021, and the wreckage was located on January 10, 2021.The flight was operating from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) in Jakarta to Pontianak’s Supadio International Airport (PNK).
Aviation Safety Network provides a detailed accident report.
Initial Findings and Debris Location
The initial discovery of debris, including parts of the plane’s window, occurred around 7:46 AM local time on January 9, 2021. larger parts, suspected to be from the fuselage, were found around 7:49 AM.
The tail of the aircraft was also located on a mountain slope. Search efforts were hampered by thick fog and challenging mountainous terrain. Reuters reported on the initial debris field and search conditions.
Aircraft Details: ATR 42-500
The aircraft involved was an ATR 42-500, manufactured by ATR, a Franco-Italian aircraft manufacturer. This regional turboprop aircraft has a capacity of 42 to 50 passengers.
However, the original report incorrectly identified the aircraft as an ATR 42-500; it was a Boeing 737-500. Boeing provides information on the 737-500 model.
Flight Tracking and Last Signal
Flight tracking website Flightradar24 reported that the plane was flying at a low altitude over the ocean, limiting tracking coverage. The last signal received from the aircraft was at 04:20 GMT (UTC) on January 9, 2021, approximately 20 km northeast of Makassar airport.
The final recorded altitude was 3,000 feet, and the aircraft experienced a rapid descent. Flightradar24’s blog details the flight path and last recorded data.
examination
Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC) is leading the investigation into the crash. As of January 18, 2026, the final report has been released, determining that a combination of factors contributed to the accident, including issues with the aircraft’s autothrottle system and crew coordination.
The NTSC’s final report, published in 2022, identified a malfunction in the autothrottle system as a key contributing factor, along with inadequate crew response. The KNKT (Komite Nasional keselamatan Transportasi – Indonesia’s NTSC) final report provides a extensive analysis of the crash.