Air force spokesman Air Commodore I Nyoman Suadnyana said on Tuesday the deployment was aimed at reinforcing joint search and rescue efforts in difficult mountainous terrain.
The Caracal helicopter transported personnel from the air force’s rapid response unit, known as Korpasgat, together with national search and rescue agency officers to the crash area on Monday.
From the drop-off point, Korpasgat troops and Basarnas personnel were scheduled to move directly toward the aircraft’s crash site to begin coordinated evacuation operations.
“The team has been prepared to accelerate victim evacuation while also ensuring the distribution of logistics for the joint SAR teams,” Suadnyana said.
In addition to helicopters, the air force has deployed a Boeing 737-200 aircraft from Air Squadron 5 to support the operation.
“The aircraft is carrying out aerial surveillance missions to help map the crash area, monitor field conditions and determine priority evacuation zones in the mountainous region,” Suadnyana said.
Evacuation efforts by joint SAR teams remain ongoing, with authorities hoping the additional air assets will help maximize results amid challenging terrain and weather conditions.
On the fourth day of operations following the crash, nine search and rescue units were deployed to scour hills and steep cliffs on Mount Bulusaraung.
Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Operations Deputy Edy Prakoso said the search focused on mapped sectors based on earlier findings, including victim locations, personal belongings, aircraft debris and sections of the fuselage.
“The search is being conducted in stages and in a measured manner, in line with the operational plan,” he said.
Under the coordination of the Makassar SAR office chief as mission coordinator, each unit was assigned a separate sector to ensure broader coverage across the extreme terrain, Prakoso said.
The search area consists of steep cliffs with depths estimated at hundreds of meters from the summit, requiring specialized movement techniques and strict safety measures for all personnel.
Units one through five searched initial discovery points, including the first victim site, aircraft windows and debris, the first engine and seat ladder, the second victim’s location, and wing and engine parts near a waterfall.
Unit six carried out follow-up checks at the aircraft’s tail section, located about 200 meters below the surface. Unit seven handled evacuations to rice fields at Kampung Baru, with unit eight securing routes.
From the air, unit nine conducted aerial sweeps using a helicopter from Hasanuddin Air Base to cover all sectors and improve mapping support for ground teams.
The operation involves about 376 personnel from Basarnas, the military, police and other rescue groups, including university outdoor clubs and staff from national philanthropic organizations.
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Translator: Walda M, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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