10 Facts About the Sriwijaya Air Missing Plane That Are Known So Far

According to 2015 statistics from The Economist, the probability of your plane crashing is around 1 in 5.4 million.

Those kind of numbers will certainly put most at ease.

But while plane crashes are rare, they still occur, and are devastating and traumatising for the families and friends of the victims.

Sadly, this may have been the fate of one Indonesian airline on Saturday afternoon (9 Jan).

A Sriwijaya jet lost contact with air traffic controllers minutes after taking off from Indonesia’s capital at 2.30 pm local time.

The plane is believed to have crashed into the sea shortly after take-off.

So, what do we know about the incident so far?

Sriwijaya is One of Indonesia’s Budget Airlines

Founded in 2003, Sriwijaya is a Jakarta-based budget airline that primarily flies to domestic locations in Indonesia.

It also serves passengers from some foreign destinations including Penang in Malaysia.

It’s the fifth largest carrier in Indonesia by flights scheduled, according to Reuters. 

It Was a Domestic, 90-Minute Flight

In a statement, Sriwijaya said the plane was on an estimated 90-minute flight from Jakarta to Pontianak, the capital of West Kalimantan province on Indonesia’s Borneo island.

The jet was a Boeing 737-500, part of the 737 family, the world’s most-flown commercial aircraft series.

The Plane Disappeared Four Minutes After Take-off

The Sriwijaya flight was initially delayed for 30 minutes due to heavy rain, BBC reported.

Mysteriously, four minutes after it took off, the plane disappeared from radars and lost contact with air traffic controllers.

Air traffic controllers last heard from the pilot when the plane ascended to an altitude of 29,000 feet (8,839 meters).

It is believed to have dropped more than 3,000m (10,000ft) in less than a minute after that.

It did not send a distress signal.

The Plane Was Carrying 62 Passengers

Sriwijaya Air told CNA that there were 62 passengers on board the aircraft.

This included 40 adults, 7 children, and three infants.

There were also 12 airline employees who were on the plane, including six who were operating the flight.

Soerjanto Tjahjanto, the head of the national transport safety committee, said all the people on board were Indonesians.

The Plane Went Missing Near a Previous Flight Crash Site

The Sriwijaya jet went missing around 20km north of Jakarta, near the crash site of another Indonesian flight.

Back in Oct 2018, a Lion Air flight plunged into the sea 12 minutes after taking off, killing all 189 passengers and crew.

It’s Not Known If the Plane Has Actually Crashed

One of the toughest things for the families involved in the disappearance of the Sriwijaya jet is that it’s not actually known if the plane has crashed.

It’s feared to have crashed since it disappeared from radars while flying over the sea, and because some witnesses allegedly saw and heard a loud explosion in that area.

One fisherman, Solihin, told BBC Indonesia that he witnessed a crash and his captain decided to return to land as a result.

Fishermen Have Found Debris & Clothes Believed to Be From The Plane

Some police officers and fisherman have also reportedly found some objects near the purported accident site, believed to be from the plane.

Bambang Suryo Aji, the National Search and Rescue Agency’s deputy head of operations and preparedness, said some fisherman found plane debris and clothes.

The articles were handed over to the National Transportation Safety Committee for further investigation to determine if they indeed came from the missing plane.

Cables and pieces of metal were also reportedly found by some fishermen in the water.

The Plane Was Older, But Had a Good Safety Record

According to Reuters, the Boeing 737-500 that took off from Jakarta was 27 years old.

Originally flown by carriers in the United States, it is not to be confused with the 737 MAX, which was grounded for 20 months and involved in two fatal crashes.

Usually, commercial jets fly up to 25 years before being scrapped.

They are, however, built to last longer.

The Boeing 737-500 serving passengers on the Sriwijaya flight was a little older, but it had a strong safety record.

Indonesia Has a Poor Record on Aviation Safety, Was Once Banned BY US & EU

The same can’t be said for Indonesia as a whole, though, as it has a relatively poor record on aviation safety.

Due to poorly enforced safety standards and old infrastructure, Indonesia has been afflicted by transportation accidents on land, sea, and air.

Indonesian airlines were previously banned from flying to the United States and European Union for not meeting international safety standards, according to India TV News.

Both have since lifted the ban, as the country improved its aviation safety and compliance with international standards.

The Authorities Have Embarked on a Large-scale Search & Rescue Operation

Now, the authorities are racing against the clock to find the victims involved in the crash.

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said 12 vessels, including four warships, were deployed in a search-and-rescue operation around Lancang island and Laki island, which is just north of Jakarta and where the plane is believed to have crashed.

Around 50 people were said to be taking part in the search, which carried on into the night.

Several family members have come to Soekarno Hatta airport and were ushered inside. #sriwijayaair pic.twitter.com/PbaXzWnte0

— Nivell Rayda (@NivellCNA) January 9, 2021

The uncertainty is understandably torturous for family members, as they were seen hugging and crying at both Jakarta’s and Pontianak’s airport.

One anxious relative, Yaman Zai, told reporters that he has four family members on the Sriwijaya flight – his wife and three children.

“[My wife] sent me a picture of the baby today… How could my heart not be torn into pieces?”

Featured Image: Corvin.Y.O / Shutterstock.com (Image is for illustration purpose only)