Story Of Captain Afwan, Sriwijaya Air Pilot SJ-182: Departing Hurriedly And Saying An Apology

The nephew of Captain Afwan, Ferza Mahardika and Muhammad Akbar at Bumi Cibinong Endah (BCE) Housing, Bogor Regency, West Java, (M Fikri Setiawan / Antara)

JAKARTA - The family of Sriwijaya Air SJ-182 pilots who have lost contact and are suspected of crashing in the Thousand Islands of DKI Jakarta, said Captain Afwan on Saturday, January 9, left in a hurry and wore un-ironed clothes.

"Last night his wife told him that this was the first time in 15 years that her husband left in a hurry and without ironing his clothes," said Captain Afwan's nephew, Muhammad Akbar, as reported by Antara, Sunday, January 10.

Before leaving, Captain Afwan apologized to his wife. Even after arriving at the airport, Captain Afwan also made a video call to his son.

"This is something he does not normally do. Usually every time he landed, Captain Afwan always called his wife, but until the time of landing, there was no news until now, "explained Akbar.

The family hopes that there will be a miracle and get good news about Captain Afwan's whereabouts.

Previously, the Sriwijaya Air plane PK-CLC SJ registration number 182 for the Jakarta-Pontianak route lost contact on Saturday, January 9, at 14:40 WIB and crashed in the waters of the Thousand Islands between Lancang Island and Laki Island, Seribu Islands.

The Boeing 737-500 aircraft lost contact at a position 11 nautical miles north of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, after passing an altitude of 11,000 feet and at the time increasing its altitude at 13,000 feet.

The plane took off from Soekarno-Hatta Airport at 14.36 WIB. The schedule is delayed from the previous flight schedule at 13.35 WIB. Departure delays due to weather factors.

Based on manifest data, the aircraft produced in 1994 carried 62 people consisting of 50 passengers and 12 crew members. Of these, 40 adults, seven children, three babies. Meanwhile, the 12 crew consists of six active crews and six extra crews.

The existence of the aircraft is currently under investigation and search by the National SAR Agency (Basarnas) and the National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC). Direct coordination is carried out with various parties, including the Police, TNI and the Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta.

A number of ships belonging to the Navy were deployed, about 10 ships were deployed to the location where the plane was suspected of crashing between Male Island and Lancang Island, Thousand Islands, DKI Jakarta.

Among the Indonesian Navy ships that were deployed, namely the KRI Teluk Gilimanuk-531 carrying SAR crews and also media crews. Then KRI Rigel-933 belongs to the Indonesian Navy Hydrographic and Oceanographic Center (Pushidrosal).