KNKT Reveals Chronology of Sriwijaya Air SJ 182 Crash

HomeJakarta, CNN Indonesia – The National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) submitted a preliminary report on the investigation of the Sriwijaya Air SJ 182 plane that crashed in the waters of the Thousand Islands on Saturday (9/1). From the initial report, the KNKT detailed the chronology of the crash on the Jakarta-Pontianak route.

Head of the Aviation Accident Investigation Sub-Committee, Captain Nurcahyo Utomo said, SJ182 took off from Soekarno-Hatta Airport at around 14.36 WIB.

“After take-off, the aircraft followed the predetermined departure path. Then the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) recorded the autopilot system active (engage) at an altitude of 1,980 feet,” Nurcahyo said in a press conference held virtually, Wednesday (10/2).

Nurcahyo said, when passing an altitude of 8,150 feet, the left engine power control lever (throttle) moves backwards or the power decreases, while the right throttle remains.

Next, at 2.38pm, due to weather conditions, the pilot requested an air traffic controller (ATC) to turn 075 degrees and was granted permission.

ATC then estimated that the change in direction would cause SJ182 to cross paths with another aircraft departing from the runway with the same destination. Therefore, ATC requested the pilot to stop climbing at 11,000 feet.

At 14.39, when passing 10,600 feet with the aircraft heading at 046 degrees, the aircraft began to turn left. According to Nurcahyo, the left engine power control lever moved backwards, while the right one was still fixed.

ATC then gave instructions for the pilot to raise the aircraft to an altitude of 13,000 feet and was answered by the pilot at 14.39.59.

“This is the last communication from SJ182,” said Nurcahyo.

At 14.40.05 WIB, the FDR recorded SJ182’s highest altitude of 10,900 feet. Then the aircraft began to descend, the autopilot was inactive when the aircraft’s direction was at 016 degrees, the aircraft’s attitude was up, and the aircraft tilted to the left.

Next, at around 14:40.10 WIB, the FDR recorded the autothrottle was inactive or disengaged and the aircraft’s attitude was downward. About 20 seconds later, the FDR stopped recording data.

Sriwijaya Air SJ 182 on the Jakarta-Pontianak route lost contact in the waters between Laki Island and Lancang Island, Kepulauan Seribu on Saturday 9 January 2021 at around 14.40 WIB.

The Boeing 737-500 aircraft was confirmed to have crashed into the sea after four minutes of takeoff from Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Banten.

The total number of passengers on board was 62, with details of 56 passengers and six active crew members. The 56 passengers consisted of 40 adults, seven children, and three toddlers.