Bandung, IndonesiaSentinel.com — Trigana Air, one of Indonesia’s regional airlines, has experienced several significant incidents and accidents since its establishment. The airline, which serves remote areas of Indonesia, has faced numerous safety concerns over the years. Below is a timeline of major accidents involving Trigana Air from 2005 to 2024.
November 17, 2006 – Contact Lost Over Papua
On November 17, 2006, a Trigana Air Service flight carrying nine passengers lost contact in the Puncak Jaya region of Papua. The plane had departed from Mulia, the capital of Puncak Jaya Regency, at 8:00 AM local time, heading for Ilaga District. Just 15 minutes into the flight, it lost contact with air traffic controllers. The flight was expected to land in Ilaga at 9:20 AM.
The aircraft had been chartered by the Puncak Jaya regional government, with several local government officials on board. On November 18, 2006, the wreckage of the aircraft was found in the village of Dagu, Ilaga, Papua. The plane had crashed and burned, killing all nine passengers and three crew members. Recovery efforts were hindered by poor weather conditions, including dark skies and thick fog.
February 11, 2010 – Propeller Failure
On February 11, 2010, a Trigana Air ATR 42, flying from Balikpapan to Samarinda and Berau in East Kalimantan, encountered a propeller failure mid-flight. The aircraft’s left propeller stopped functioning, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing in a rice field in Samboja, Kutai Kartanegara.
During the emergency landing, the aircraft lost all three of its landing gears, and its fuselage was torn open. While one female passenger suffered a broken leg, all 51 passengers on board survived the incident.
April 8, 2012 – Shooting in Puncak Jaya
On April 8, 2012, a Trigana Air flight, registration PK-YRF, with route from Nabire to Puncak Jaya, was shot at by unknown assailants as it approached Mulia Airport in Papua. The attack took place around 8:21 AM local time and caused the plane to crash into a building on the edge of the airport.
The incident raised security concerns in the region, which had already been known for occasional unrest. While details of the assailants remain unclear, this was one of the more violent incidents in the airline’s history.
January 11, 2015 – Crash Landing in Papua
On January 11, 2015, a Trigana Air Twin Otter DHC-6, registered PK-YRU, crash-landed at Enarotali Airport in Papua. The aircraft, which had been flying from Timika to pick up passengers in Enarotali following the Christmas holiday season, encountered strong winds as it attempted to land.
No passengers were on board at the time, and both the pilot, Captain Robert Runtu, and the co-pilot, FO Jihad, escaped unharmed. The plane sustained damage to its nose, landing gear, and propellers due to the crash landing. Clear weather conditions were present at the time, and the incident was attributed to strong gusts of wind.
August 16, 2015 – Mountain Crash in Papua
On August 16, 2015, a Trigana Air ATR 42-300, flying from Sentani Airport in Jayapura to Oksibil in Papua, lost contact with air traffic control 30 minutes after takeoff. The aircraft, registered PK-YRN, was carrying 54 people, including five crew members, 44 adult passengers, two children, and three infants.
The plane was later found in a mountainous area in Okbape District, having crashed into a hillside. All passengers and crew died in the crash. Investigators pointed to poor weather and challenging terrain as likely contributing factors to the tragic accident.
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March 20, 2021 – Runway Overrun at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport
On March 20, 2021, a Trigana Air cargo flight, operating a Boeing 737-400F, skidded off the runway at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta. Shortly after takeoff, the plane’s right engine experienced mechanical failure, prompting the pilot to request a return to base (RTB).
As the plane landed, the right landing gear malfunctioned, causing the aircraft to skid off the runway. The landing gear collapsed, and the aircraft came to a halt with all three landing gears broken. Fortunately, there were no injuries, but the incident highlighted ongoing concerns about the safety of the airline’s aging fleet.
September 9, 2024 – Skid off During Takeoff
Most recently, on September 9, 2024, a Trigana Air flight preparing to take off from Stevanus Rumbewas Kamanap Airport in Papua skidded off the runway. The aircraft, an ATR 42-500, skidded off 1.200 meters from the runway right before its scheduled takeoff to Sentani Airport, Jayapura.
No fatalities were recorded during the incidents. All 42 passengers, including 6 crew, were safe and only suffered from light injuries.
(Raidi/Agung)
