JAKARTA - PT Pelita Air Service revealed the chronology of the charter flight of the Air Tractor AT-802 fleet with registration PK-PAA, which crashed in Nunukan, North Kalimantan, while carrying out a routine mission of distributing the One Price Fuel program, resulting in the pilot's death.
Pelita Air Service Patria Rhamadonna's Corporate Secretary revealed that PK-PAA aircraft carried out flights from Juwata Tarakan Airport to Long Bawan Airport carrying fuel.
The plane took off at 10.22 WITA and landed safely at Long Bawan at 11.24 WITA. Upon arrival at Long Bawan, ground staff immediately carried out the unloading process so that the plane was ready to return to Tarakan in an unladen condition at 12.10 WITA.
"At 12.30 WITA, the headquarters of PT Pelita Air Service in Jakarta received initial information regarding the condition of the PK-PAA aircraft which was suspected of having crashed not far from Long Bawan Airport," said Patria as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, February 19.
Following up on this information, the company immediately carried out intensive coordination with Tarakan Air Base, Basarnas, and local communities to ensure the condition of the pilot and the aircraft.
After an intensive search, the location of the plane was found at 13.25 WITA. The pilot was then evacuated in a dead state at 14.33 WITA, then the body was taken to Pratama Long Bawan Hospital and arrived at 15.20 WITA.
The body is planned to be evacuated to Tarakan on Friday, February 20, 2026 at 09.50 WITA, and then flown to Jakarta on the first opportunity to be handed over to the family.
Pelita Air together with the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) will send a joint team to Long Bawan on February 20, 2026 to immediately begin the investigation process into the cause of the plane crash.
"For information, the aircraft used in the flight is the Air Tractor AT-802 type of 2013 production which is in a state of airworthiness and has undergone the latest routine maintenance on February 15, 2026," explained Patria.
The flight was manned by one pilot, namely Capt. Hendrick Lodewyck Adam, aged 54, who joined PT Pelita Air Service since July 2021 with a total flying experience of more than 8,000 hours.
PT Pelita Air Service management expressed deep condolences for the death of the pilot on duty. The company ensures that it will fulfill all rights and benefits to the deceased's family and provide the necessary assistance during the mourning period.
The company also ensures to continue to coordinate with the National Transportation Safety Committee, the Directorate General of Air Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation, as well as all related parties to ensure that the investigation process is transparent and comprehensive.
The company is committed to continuing to ensure the operational safety of all PT Pelita Air Service flights.
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