Search Operation for Lion Air JT610 Extended for Further Three Days

BNPP Head M. Syaugi delivers a press statement at the Tanjung Priok JITC 2 Command Post, Jakarta, Wednesday (7/11). (Photo by: BNPP Public Relations)

Head of the National Search and Rescue Agency (BNPP) M. Syaugi has decided to extend the search and rescue operation for crashed Lion Air flight number JT-610 with registration number PK-LQP for further 3 days after obtaining evaluation and input on the ground. The move was done as the operation entered Day-10, on Wednesday (7/11), or the last day of the first three-day extension.

“We will extend the SAR operation for three more days, particularly for the BNPP team,” said Syaugi at a press conference at the JITC 2 Integrated Command Post in Port of Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, Wednesday (7/11).

Therefore, Syaugi added that the joint SAR team from the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), Ministry of Transportation, the Sea and Coast Guard Unit (KPLP), the port master (KSOP), Customs, the Maritime Security Board (Bakamla), Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Affairs, state-owned oil and gas company (Pertamina) and others are going to return to their respective units to fulfill other duties.

“We would like to extend our gratitude and high appreciation for the synergy, dedication, and solid cooperation on the ground, so that as of today, we have managed to evacuate 186 body bags,” ??said Syaugi.

Furthermore, the current BNPP team consisting of 220 personnel including 60 divers and equipped with 4 ships, 4 rigid inflatable boats, and 5 landing craft rubber boats will focus on finding the body’s victims with a 250 meter locus at the coordinates that have been the center of the search.

“This operation has been underway for 10 days, and the trend from the results of sweeping on the surface and on the seabed has decreased, therefore, the BNPP team is sufficient to search for the next 3 days,” Syaugi explained.

Meanwhile, the National Police Disaster Victims Identification (DVI) team remain on standby, waiting for the results of the operations conducted by the BNPP team. “To date, we have received 186 body bags from BNPP and 44 of which have been identified at the Kramat Jati Police Hospital,” said the Jakarta’s DVI official Asep Winardi.

In addition, the Integrated Command Posts in JITC 2, Port of Tanjung Priok and in Tanjung Pakis remain in operation.

As reported earlier, Lion Air Flight Number JT-610 from Cengkareng bound for Pangkalpinang crashed in the Karawang Waters, West Java, 13 minutes after took off from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Monday (29/10) morning, with 189 people onboard. (BNPP Public Relations/ES)

Translated by: Muhardi

Edited by: Mia Medyana B.