ATR Crash a Warning for Transport Safety: Lawmaker

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian House of Representatives Commission V lawmaker Novita Wijayanti has described the crash of an ATR 42-500 aircraft as a stark warning for national transportation safety. She stressed that similar incidents must not recur without concrete mitigation measures from the government.

“We are deeply concerned about this situation. That is why we held a meeting with the ministry to understand what actually happened,” Novita said after attending a Commission V workshop and hearing session on the evaluation of the 2025 Christmas and 2026 New Year holiday period at the Parliament Building in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

Novita argued that weak risk anticipation has been evident in a series of recent transportation accidents. “This has been our concern, because it is not only the ATR crash. Previously, there was also a ship sinking,” she said.

She warned that risks would rise further as Eid al-Fitr and the extreme weather season approach. Novita underlined the urgency of cross-sector coordination to reduce the likelihood of similar accidents in the future.

On the issue of airworthiness, Novita questioned claims that the aircraft was safe to fly. “That is what they said, but we are puzzled as to why this happened. The black box is still under investigation,” she noted.

She emphasized that the investigation must not be treated as a mere formality or oversimplify the causes of the crash. “We are talking about lives and safety. We asked how this could be mitigated and what the reasons behind it were,” Novita said.

The lawmaker also called for stricter supervision before any aircraft is cleared for departure. She believes comprehensive inspections are essential to detect potential problems early, allowing flights to be canceled immediately if necessary.

Meanwhile, the Head of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), Air Marshal M. Syafii, confirmed that there were no survivors from the ATR 42-500 crash. “I would like to say that we are still hoping for a miracle, that there are survivors who can be rescued alive,” Syafii said.

The ATR 42-500 aircraft lost contact and crashed in Maros, South Sulawesi, on Saturday, January 17. The plane had been chartered by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries for surveillance missions in Indonesian waters.

It was carrying ten people, including seven crew members and three ministry officials. Two victims, a man and a woman, have been found, while search and evacuation efforts continue at the crash site. (Gusti Panji/Lasti Martina)