Sriwijaya Air SJ-182 Search Entering The Last Day, Will It Be Extended Again?

Evacuation of Sriwijaya AIr SJ 182 Aircraft (Photo: Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - Today, the Joint SAR team is entering its 13th day in an effort to search for victims and materials of the Sriwijaya Air SJ-182 plane that crashed in the waters of the Thousand Islands.

Referring to the provisions of Law Number 29 of 2014 concerning Search and Assistance, it is stated that the search period for victims lasts seven days and can be extended according to the needs of the search.

The search for Sriwijaya Air SJ-182 started from Saturday, January 9 to January 14. Then, it was extended to January 18 and again to January 21.

Basarnas Operations Director, Brigadier General Rasman MS, said that today the Head of Basarnas, Marshal Madya Bagus Puruhito, will coordinate with related parties to decide whether the search period is extended or stopped.

"Today is the last day of the second extension. How will the outcome be, we will wait for a decision from the leader," said Rasman at the JICT II Integrated Command Post, North Jakarta, Thursday, January 21.

In today's SAR operation, Rasman said the team would continue to dive. However, this morning, no dive attempts were made due to bad weather. The search was continued when the weather cleared.

"Today the dives are adjusting. The weather conditions (this morning) are not good, so that our colleagues who are in the field while still not getting off. Likewise with our ship, taking shelter in a safe place," said Rasman.

Basarnas again received three bags of plane debris from the Indonesian Navy which were just handed over this morning to the JICT II Integrated Command Post, based on yesterday's search results.

"This morning, three small bags of aircraft debris will be handed over by the joint SAR of the Navy. The findings were submitted this morning because the weather has just subsided," said Rasman.

So, until now, the SAR team's findings total 324 body bags containing body parts. Then, as many as 119 aircraft materials, with details of 67 small bags containing aircraft debris and 55 large aircraft pieces.