"The weather was relatively stable, but Cb clouds were present in the landing approach area, which requires caution," Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) head Teuku Faisal Fathani told a meeting with House of Representatives Commission V in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Fathani said the assessment was based on analyses of airport meteorological reports and satellite imagery.
He stressed that the information was presented to describe meteorological conditions at the time of the incident and was not intended to determine the technical cause of the crash.
The Ministry of Transportation said the cause of the crash involving the aircraft on Mount Bulusaraung remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT).
Fathani explained that the Meteorological Aerodrome Report (METAR) at 12:30 p.m. local time showed relatively stable conditions at Sultan Hasanuddin Airport in Maros, South Sulawesi, with 9 kilometers of visibility, westerly winds at 13 knots, and normal temperature and pressure.
However, he said thick cumulonimbus clouds were observed in areas surrounding the airport, particularly over Maros, posing potential risks to the aircraft’s landing approach.
Himawari satellite imagery also detected high and dense cloud formations over Maros, with cloud-top temperatures indicating convective activity, consistent with airport weather reports.
The ATR 42-500 aircraft operated by Indonesia Air Transport (IAT) was reported missing while attempting to land at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport on Saturday.
The aircraft was flying from Yogyakarta with 10 people on board: seven crew members and three passengers from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries — Ferry Irawan, Deden Mulyana, and Yoga Naufal.
The crew consisted of pilot Captain Andi Dahananto, co-pilot Muhammad Farhan Gunawan, and flight attendants Hariadi, Restu Adi, Dwi Murdiono, Florencia Lolita, and Esther Aprilita.
Rescue teams have found several pieces of aircraft debris and recovered two bodies, though authorities have yet to confirm their identities.
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Translator: Tri Meilani, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Anton Santoso
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